Penicillamine–Induced Cupriuria in Normal Subjects and in Patients with Active Liver Disease

Abstract

Summary

The urinary excretion of copper was measured in four normal subjects and in six patients with chronic active liver disease following the oral administration of 1.5 g of D–penieillamine/day. All individuals excreted a maximum of 663 to 1390 μg of copper/day and there was no difference between the two groups. Since patients with Wilson's disease excrete more than 1400 μg of copper in the urine/day following penicillamine therapy, this test may be of value in differentiating patients with Wilson's disease from patients with chronic active liver disease.

We are indebted to Miss Jacqueline Thomas and Mrs. Alice Tustison for technical assistance.

Fig. 1. Urinary excretion of copper in normal subjects and in patients with chronic active liver disease before and after the oral administration of 1.5 g of D–penicillamine/day beginning at Day 0.