Penicillamine therapy in systemic sclerosis.
Twenty-two patients with progressive systemic sclerosis were treated with D-penicillamine in doses ranging up to 1250 mg/day for periods varying between a few months and four years. Side-effects occurred in 7 patients, necessitating drug withdrawal in 2. Cutaneous benefit occurred in 15 patients, but owing to side-effects from the drug, relapses, and development, persistence or advancement of visceral complications, an overall good result only occurred in 5. Seven patients showed improvements in joint function, but only 3 were regarded as having an overall good result. Peripheral vascular disease and visceral involvement seemed not to be influenced by D-penicillamine and sometimes appeared or advanced during treatment. Six patients died from visceral manifestations of systemic sclerosis and one from another cause. D-penicillamine is of limited value for the cutaneous features of progressive systemic sclerosis, but probably of no value for the vascular and visceral manifestations of the disease.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010396:Penicillamine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000188:drug therapy*
D010396:Penicillamine