Effect of D-penicillamine on serum immunoglobulins and rheumatoid factor.

Penicillamine has been used in the treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis with variable clinical response (Jaffe, 1963; Camus, Guillien, Crouzet, Schaeffer, and Lievre, 1970; Zuckner, Ramsey, Dorner, and Gantner, 1970; Golding, Wilson, and Day, 1970). Moreover, observations on the effect of this drug on serum immunoglobulins and rheumatoid factor titres have yielded conflicting and indefinite results (Jaffe, 1970). Currently, a U.K. multi-centre, double-blind, controlled trial is under way in which D-penicillamine is being compared to a placebo amongst patients with definite or classical rheumatoid arthritis (Camp, 1971). A definitive paper reporting that trial will include detailed results of changes in rheumatoid factor titres measured in another laboratory. The present study reports the effect of the active drug versus placebo on the serum immunoglobulins and rheumatoid factor titres over a 6-month period in a group of patients entered into the current trial.