Maintenance therapy simplification using a single daily dose: A preliminary real-life feasibility study in patients with Wilson disease

Background: Single daily dose (SDD) is a good way to improve adherence by simplifying treatment. Efficacy data concerning patients with Wilson disease (WD) taking an SDD are lacking.

Aim: To report the effectiveness of the use of SDD for the treatment of WD.

Methods: This retrospective study included WD patients followed in the French National Network who received an SDD in maintenance phase. The treatment failure was defined as a composite criterion with the occurrence of at least one of the following criterion: death, transplantation, increase of transaminases >2xULN, hepatic decompensation, neurological aggravation, severe side effects related to treatment, and/or discontinuation of treatment.

Results: A total of 26 patients received an SDD (D-penicillamine=13, trientine=8, zinc=5) after a median interval of 152 months after diagnosis. After one year, two patients had treatment failure: transaminitis in one, continuation of neurological deterioration in the other related to a poor compliance. After a median duration of 41 months on SDD, 3 other patients had treatment failure (transaminitis=2, treatment discontinuation=1). There was no death, no liver transplantation, no hepatic decompensation, and no severe side effects related to treatment during the follow-up. Moreover, transaminases and serum exchangeable copper were not significantly different 1 year post-switch and at last follow-up compared to baseline.

Conclusions: Maintenance therapy simplification through the use of an SDD could be considered in some WD patients. In this pilot study, SDD was effective in 21/26 patients (81%) without any concern regarding safety.

Keywords: Adherence; Compliance; Long-term care; Persistence; Single daily dose; Wilson disease; Wilson's disease.

Clin Res Hepatol Gastroenterol. 2022 Jun 14 ; 46(9) :101978. doi: 10.1016/j.clinre.2022.101978.