Penicillamine revisited: historic overview and review of the clinical uses and cutaneous adverse effects.

Abstract

Penicillamine is a well-known heavy metal chelator, classically used in the treatment of Wilson disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and cystinuria. From a dermatologic standpoint, penicillamine was found to be useful in the treatment of systemic sclerosis. The successful therapeutic uses of penicillamine have been hindered by its numerous adverse effects, both cutaneous and extra-cutaneous. It is a unique drug since it provokes a diversity of dermatologic manifestations that include (1) acute hypersensitivity reactions, (2) dermopathies characterized by elastic fiber abnormalities including elastosis perforans serpiginosa and pseudo-pseudoxanthoma elasticum, (3) autoimmune disorders such as pemphigus and penicillamine-induced lupus erythematosus-like syndrome, and (4) miscellaneous dermatoses that result from undefined mechanisms. These cutaneous adverse effects may correlate with the dosage and duration of penicillamine therapy as well as the disease being treated.

• Authors: Rim Ishak, Ossama Abbas
• Journal: American journal of clinical dermatology (Am J Clin Dermatol) Vol. 14 Issue 3 Pg. 223-33 (Jun 2013) ISSN: 1179-1888 [Electronic] New Zealand
• PMID: 23605177 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Chelating Agents
• Penicillamine

Topics

• Chelating Agents (adverse effects)
• Humans
• Penicillamine (adverse effects)
• Skin Diseases (chemically induced)