[Results of long-term D-penicillamine therapy in chronic polyarthritis]

In 34 patients with severe rheumatoid arthritis the therapeutic efficacy of 600 mg/die of D-penicillamine was evaluated for five years. Patients were included in the study only if the duration of their disease exceeded 6 months (upper limit 12 months), and there was involvement of 6 or more joints and an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (1 Hour values greater than or equal to 25 mm). In 9 patients (26%) a decline in the activity index could be observed, but 7 of these subjects had a deterioration of findings as assessed by x-ray. The increase of the activity index indicated no therapeutic benefit in 25 patients (74%), which could be confirmed in all subjects by x-ray.