D-Penicillamine-Induced Polymyositis in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Excerpt

D-penicillamine is an effective treatment for active rheumatoid arthritis (1). As more experience is gained with this drug, the more apparent becomes its spectrum of toxicity. A lupus-like syndrome (2) and polymyositis (3) have been reported as complications of D-penicillamine therapy. This report describes a patient who, 1 month after beginning therapy for rheumatoid arthritis, manifested signs and symptoms of polymyositis associated with myocarditis, proteinuria, and hypocomplementemia.

A 58-year-old woman was admitted to Columbia Hospital in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 12 May 1975, for weakness. She had been in good health until 2½ years before admission when she was diagnosed as having