[Pharmacology of D-penicillamine]

In acute pharmacological experiments, D-betta,betta-dimethylcysteine (D-penicillamine, Metalcaptase) stands out for its good oral and intravenous tolerance. In case of high dosage, slight analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects can be found. The influence on newly formed connective tissue is not uniform. While the wet and dry weights of granulomata are not influenced, D-penicillamine causes a retardation of the healing process in standardised burns. Mechanical properties of connective tissue such as the resistance of cut wounds, the tearing strength of excised dorsal skin strips or of the capsule of the knee-joint show after long-term treatment with D-penicillamine a dose-dependent change in the sense of a decrease of the data obtained. After discontinuation of the test substance, the data reach standard values within a few days.