Abstract: Objective This paper aimed to summarize gait feature and balance function changes in patients with Wilson disease (WD) and complicated by freezing of gait (FOG). Methods 95 patients with Wilson’s disease, including 14 patients with FOG, were encountered in our hospital between January 2018 and January 2024, the Unified Wilson’s Disease Rating Scale Part Ι was applied to evaluate nervous system functions, and U-shaped electronic walkway was used to assess gait and balance functions. Results Percentages of speech disturbances, tremor, drooling and clumsiness or bradykinesia in patients with FOG were 85.7%, 71.4%, 78.6% and 71.4%, with UWDRS-Ι score of (57.7±3.6), much higher than [(20.3±3.6), P<0.05] in patients with Wilson disease without FOG; reduced left and right step length, stride length and step width were found in patients with FOG(P<0.05), and step frequency, gait cycle and double support time also decreased(P<0.05); the FOG group exhibited significantly greater center of pressure (COP) parameters, e.g., sway velocity, angular sway velocity, medial-lateral angular sway velocity, anterior-posterior angular sway velocity and open-eye/closed-eye sway velocity ratio, while presented a smaller envelope area (P<0.05). Conclusion The abnormal gait and balance impairment in patients with WD and FOG is not uncommon, and the pathogenesis needs further investigation.

Key words: Wilson's disease, Unified Wilson's Disease Rating Scale Part Ι, Freezing of gait, Gait feature, Balance functions