D-penicillamine in Felty's syndrome.
We report our experience with 8 patients with Felty's syndrome who were treated with D-penicillamine for a mean of one year. Six of the 8 patients experienced improvement in their neutropenia. Cutaneous ulcers healed in 4 of 6, while recurrent infections cleared in 3 of 5 patients. The drug was withdrawn in 6 patients--lack of response in one, thrombocytopenia in one, urticaria in one, rash in one, and granulocytopenia in 2. One of the latter 2 patients developed pancytopenia and died. Although D-penicillamine is effective in treatment of Felty's syndrome, its side effects can be serious and potentially lethal. Its use should be limited to patients who have failed other treatments.
D000368:Aged; D005258:Felty Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006098:Granulocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects; D010396:Penicillamine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D006454:Hemoglobins; D010396:Penicillamine