Wilson Disease: When Early Diagnosis Makes All the Difference!

When Abigail Patenaude was 16 years old, routine blood work showing elevated LFTs (liver function tests) led to a diagnosis of Wilson Disease, an autosomal recessive condition which is more often diagnosed much later in life (if at all) after hepatic or neurological symptoms caused by an accumulation of copper in the body. Abigail discusses why an early diagnosis of Wilson Disease was so lucky and how her experience with genetic counseling as a patient led her to pursue a career in genetic counseling. At the time that we recorded this interview, Abigail was nearing graduation from Sarah Lawrence College with a Masters in Human Genetics. What has surprised her the most in her training? That things are rarely straightforward in genetic counseling!