A study of adjunctive copper sulphate treatment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis who have relapsed while taking D-penicillamine.
Formation of a D-penicillamine-copper complex may be necessary for the anti-rheumatic effect of D-penicillamine. Thus, depletion of copper stores by D-penicillamine may eventually lead to relapse in D-penicillamine treated patients. Twenty-one patients who relapsed on D-penicillamine were randomised to copper sulphate 20 mg daily (n = 13) or matched placebo (n = 8) in addition to penicillamine daily for 16 weeks. Urinary copper was increased in the copper treated patients but no statistically significant or clinically important improvement occurred in either group.
Pullar
T
T
Clinical Pharmacology Unit, University of Leeds, The General Infirmary.
Wrigley
H
H
Newton
K
K
Toothill
C
C
Wright
V
V
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003300:Copper / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000652:urine; D019327:Copper Sulfate; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010396:Penicillamine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012008:Recurrence
D003300:Copper; D010396:Penicillamine; D019327:Copper Sulfate