A comparison of therapies which may influence trace metals in rheumatoid arthritis.

Forty-five patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were treated with D-Penicillamine (DPA), zinc sulphate or trien for 24 weeks. Clinical and biochemical assessments were made on eight occasions during the treatment period. Results supported the view that DPA is efficacious causing both clinical and biochemical improvement, whereas zinc sulphate provided clinical benefit in some patients without improving the biochemistry, and trien was ineffective in both respects. The results indicate the need for more thorough investigations of the effect of drugs on trace metal distribution in RA.