D-penicillamine and the ocular myasthenic syndrome.
D-penicillamine is a potent drug used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, Wilson's disease and cystinuria. D-penicillamine has recently been found to cause myasthenia gravis in certain susceptible patients. We present a typical case of one patient who developed myasthenia while taking D-penicillamine. The withdrawal of D-penicillamine and the institution of short-term anticholinesterase therapy resulted in the resolution of this disease. The literature is reviewed and attention is focused on the point that all patients who developed myasthenia while undergoing D-penicillamine therapy had ocular symptoms.
D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy; D001763:Blepharoptosis / Q000139:chemically induced*; D004172:Diplopia / Q000139:chemically induced*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000139:chemically induced*; D010396:Penicillamine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D010396:Penicillamine