[Copper in the feces--a marker for the effectiveness of zinc in the treatment of Wilson's disease].

In the present study we discuss the question of a useful, convenient control of the effectiveness of treatment Wilson's disease with zinc. It appears useful to determine the copper content in the dry matter of individual samples of the stools obtained before and in the course of the treatment. This treatment can be assumed effective if the stools copper content reaches the level found in healthy subjects (0.72 micromol/g dry weight) while keeping the patient on a low copper diet. Copper resorption in the gut of our patient was reduced only after 12 weeks of daily administering 136 mg of elementary zinc p.o.