Penicillamine metal chelates and their possible importance in rheumatoid arthritis--a brief review.

Complexes formed between penicillamine and metal ions have in vitro effects that may have implications regarding the therapeutic action of D-penicillamine in rheumatoid arthritis. Penicillamine-copper (I) complexes suppress arthritis in animal models and suppress or inhibit mediators of inflammation such as lysosomal enzymes, prostaglandins and the oxidative metabolites of the respiratory burst; whether the inhibition of certain in vitro immunologic responses by the same complexes has any in vivo significance remains to be determined.