Effect of D, L‐penicillamine on the urinary excretion of copper and calcium in hepatolenticular degeneration (Wilson's disease)

Abstract

The oral administration of D, L-penicillamine greatly increases the urinary excretion of copper in patients with hepatolenticular degeneration and in healthy subjects. It far surpasses the effect of 2,3-dimercaptopropanol (BAL) in this regard and has the advantage of oral administration. The data suggest that the increased urinary excretion of copper represents actual mobilization of copper from tissues. D, L-penicillamine has no significant effect on the urinary excretion of calcium or phosphate. Likewise, it does not produce significant change in the urinary pH, titratable acidity, total nitrogen, ammonia nitrogen, or alpha-amino nitrogen.