Use of smaller noses of D-penicillamine in rheumatoid arthritis

Fifteen patients with rheumatoid arthritis were treated with smaller doses of D-penillamine （250mg/day） and were followed up for 23 months. Eighty-six percent of patients whose disease was in active phase got complete remission after the treatment. Meanwhile, the serological and immunologioal abnormalities, such as ESR, CRP, IC, r-globulin and immunoglobulins, returned to normal. The RF in one third of the patients became negative, and its titer in the remaining 8 seropositive RA decreased remarkably. In comparison with the regimen of large dose of penicillamine, this group show much milder side effect.