L-Penicillamine

Chemical properties

white to almost white crystalline powder

The Uses of L-Penicillamine

As a Penicillin metabolite, L-Penicillamine can be used in the treatment of Wilson’s disease, Cystinuria, Scleroderma and arsenic poisoning.

The Uses of L-Penicillamine

L-Penicillamine is a metabolite of penicillin. L-Penicillamine is used in the treatment of Wilson’s disease, Cystinuria, Scleroderma and arsenic poisoning.

The Uses of L-Penicillamine

Metal-chelating agent

Definition

ChEBI: The L-enantiomer of penicillamine.

Indications

Penicillamine (Cuprimine) can be used to treat acute, severe rheumatoid arthritis, producing reductions in joint pain, edema, and stiffness.The response to penicillamine is usually delayed (4–12 weeks), and remissions can last several months after withdrawal of treatment. Radiographic evidence of this drug’s efficacy is limited; thus, penicillamine is seldom used to treat rheumatoid arthritis.

Mechanism of action

The mechanism of action of penicillamine is unknown, but some evidence suggests that it may involve the inhibition of angiogenesis, synovial fibroblast proliferation, or transcriptional activation. Because penicillamine can chelate copper and promote its excretion, it is used to treat Wilson’s disease (hepatolenticular degeneration) and has also been used in mercury and lead intoxication.

Pharmacology

Penicillamine is readily absorbed from the GI tract and is rapidly excreted in the urine, largely as the intact molecule. Gradually increasing its dose minimizes side effects, which necessitate discontinuance of penicillamine therapy in perhaps one-third of patients. The most common side effects are maculopapular pruritic dermatitis, GI upset, loss of taste sensation, mild to occasionally severe thrombocytopenia and leukopenia,and mild proteinuria, which at times may progress to the nephritic syndrome. Discontinuance of therapy usually results in a rapid disappearance of side effects.

Safety Profile

A poison by intraperitoneal route. Mutation data reported. Whenheated to decomposition it emits toxic vapors of NOx and SOx.

Purification Methods

Same as preceding entry for its enantiomer. [Beilstein 4 IV 3228.]