Inhibition of experimental esophageal lye strictures by penicillamine.

We describe a new experimental model for the study of caustic stenosis of the esophagus in the rat. Sixty-five Wistar rats were given a standard esophageal lye burn. Animals were divided into two groups: (1) a control group and (2) a treatment group that received penicillamine from the day after the esophageal lye burn. Stenosis developed in only two of the 23 treated rats. Our conclusion is that penicillamine-induced lathyrism inhibits the onset of stenosis in the rat. Double-blind controlled studies of the effect of penicillamine in the prevention of corrosive strictures of the esophagus in man seem warranted.