Also known as: Copper accumulation disorder
A 27-year-old woman presents with ear pain, cardiac arrhythmia, kidney failure, liver failure, and psychopathic behavior. The team eventually discovers she has Wilson's disease, an inability to process copper that has damaged multiple organs and rewired her brain. Treatment with chelation therapy reverses her psychopathy, allowing her to feel emotions again.
Also known as: Antisocial personality disorder
The patient displays psychopathic behavior including lack of conscience, emotional manipulation, lying, and complete absence of empathy. Thirteen identifies this through fMRI showing no activity in the paralimbic system or amygdala when discussing emotional topics. This is later revealed to be a symptom of Wilson's disease that resolves with treatment.
Also known as: SVT
The patient presents with cardiac arrhythmia initially thought to be the primary problem, but later revealed to be a manifestation of Wilson's disease affecting the heart.
Also known as: Kidney failure
The patient develops kidney failure as part of the multisystem effects of Wilson's disease, causing brittle bones that lead to a pathologic fracture of her arm.
Also known as: Liver failure
The patient's liver fails due to Wilson's disease, causing blood flow to back up into esophageal varices. The team performs a TIPS procedure (transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt) to bypass the liver temporarily.
Also known as: Alcoholism
A co-worker of the patient who appears drunk at work and later confronts the patient about poisoning him. He has a history of alcohol problems and paranoid tendencies, though his accusations turn out to be partially true.