[Experiences with penicillamine in Wilson's disease].

Reports are being made on the principles of treatment of morbus Wilson with the help of seventeen patients and two persons in the pre-clinical stage (asymptomatic). Treatment should be begun as soon as possible in the asymptomatic stage. On the whole the pseudo-sclerosis symptoms react more favourably to treatment than many hypokinetic symptoms. A continuous course of treatment with penicillamine still effects a disappearance of the symptoms even after three to four years. Since evidence of a negative copper balance is widely used in determining the amount of the penicillamine dosage, the measurement of basal copper secretion and copper secretion with the use of penicillamine is discussed as a useful criterion.