[Determination of copper in liver puncture samples in the diagnosis of Wilson's disease].

Wilson's disease, a hereditary disorder of copper metabolism, is characterized by excessive storage of this metal in several organs. Storage of copper in liver tissue is of great importance in diagnosis and therapy. By means of the combination of two methods - low-temperature ashing and flameless atomic absorption - the copper determination can be made even in smallest liver samples (needle-biopsy samples). It is therefore possible to perform a histological examination, as well as a quantitative copper determination on one puncture sample.