Treatment of rheumatoid and degenerative diseases with copper complexes: a review with emphasis on copper-salicylate.

This review presents a historical account of the treatment of rheumatoid and other degenerative diseases with copper complexes. Clinical data obtained from 1940 to 1971 are provided for about 1,500 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (acute or chronic), rheumatic fever, ankylosing spondylitis, staphlococcal spondylitis, gonococcal arthritis, chronic gouty arthritis, polyarticular synovitis, coxitis, disseminated spondylitis, arthritis with psoriasis, Reiter's syndrome, lupus erythematosus, sarcoidosis, arthrosis deformans, erythema nodosum, sciatica (with and without lumbar involvement), cervical spine-shoulder syndrome or lumbar spine syndrome. The drugs used in these studies were Dicuprene, Alcuprin, Cuprimyl, and Permalon, a copper-salicylate preparation. A detailed presentation of toxicities associated with the use of these copper complexes is included.