Progressive systemic sclerosis and penicillamine.

Retrospective evaluation of 26 patients with progressive systemic sclerosis and diffuse scleroderma who were treated with D-penicillamine for periods of 6-50 months (average = 19 months) revealed a reduction in skin thickening, which was confirmed in 7 cases by a diminution in the weight of skin biopsy cores obtained from the forearm before and after therapy. There was little or no change in skin thickness in 18 otherwise similar patients who received other medications. Treatment with D-penicillamine also appeared to be associated with a decrease in the rate of development of new visceral involvement and prolongation in life expectancy in this series.