[Treatment of diffuse lung fibrosis with D-penicillamine]

Pulmonary fibroses which are regarded as reactive final stage of a great number of pulmonary diseases apart from their unfavourable prognosis may also therapeutically be scarcely influenced. With D-penicillamine a remedy was found which first intervened directly into the collagenic metabolism. Mechanisms of action, therapy indications and side-effects are compiled taking into consideration a broad survey of literature. Together with the casuistic description of three cases of treatment of a pulmonary fibrosis with D-penicillamine is reported on won experiences. As criterion of the therapeutic effectivity the general condition, the X-ray findings, above all, however, functional parameters of the lungs are regarded. When the pros and cons of the expenditure and the high frequency of side-effects of D-penicillamine compared with the changing therapeutic results with this medicament are considered must also thought of the fact of an otherwise not existing possibility of an effective influencibility of the pulmonary fibrosis. Actual tendencies and experiments for the improvement of the fibrose therapy are discussed.