Long-term effects of a combination of D-penicillamine and zinc salts in the treatment of Wilson's disease in children

  • Authors:
    • Hong Chang
    • Aijing Xu
    • Zhihong Chen
    • Ying Zhang
    • Fei Tian
    • Tang Li
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: February 22, 2013     https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2013.971
  • Pages: 1129-1132
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Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of a high-dose zinc sulfate and low-dose D-penicillamine combination in the treatment of pediatric Wilson's disease (WD). A retropective chart review of 65 patients with WD was conducted. These patients received D-penicillamine (8-10 mg/kg/day) and zinc sulfate as the primary treatment. The pediatric dose of elemental zinc is 68-85 mg/day until 6 years of age, 85-136 mg/day until 8 years of age, 136-170 mg/day until 10 years of age and then 170 mg/day, in 3 divided doses 1 h before meals. After clinical and biochemical improvement or stabilization, zinc sulfate alone was administered as the maintenance therapy. Under treatment, the majority of patients (89.2%) had a favourable outcome and 3 patients succumbed due to poor therapy compliance. No penicillamine-induced neurological deterioration was noted and side-effects were observed in <11% of patients over the entire follow-up period. Benefical results on the liver and neurological symptoms were reported following extremely long-term treatment with a combination of low-dose D-penicillamine and high-dose zinc sulfate. Therefore, this regimen is an effective and safe treatment for children with WD.
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April 2013
Volume 5 Issue 4

Print ISSN: 1792-0981
Online ISSN:1792-1015

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Spandidos Publications style
Chang H, Xu A, Chen Z, Zhang Y, Tian F and Li T: Long-term effects of a combination of D-penicillamine and zinc salts in the treatment of Wilson's disease in children. Exp Ther Med 5: 1129-1132, 2013
APA
Chang, H., Xu, A., Chen, Z., Zhang, Y., Tian, F., & Li, T. (2013). Long-term effects of a combination of D-penicillamine and zinc salts in the treatment of Wilson's disease in children. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, 5, 1129-1132. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2013.971
MLA
Chang, H., Xu, A., Chen, Z., Zhang, Y., Tian, F., Li, T."Long-term effects of a combination of D-penicillamine and zinc salts in the treatment of Wilson's disease in children". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 5.4 (2013): 1129-1132.
Chicago
Chang, H., Xu, A., Chen, Z., Zhang, Y., Tian, F., Li, T."Long-term effects of a combination of D-penicillamine and zinc salts in the treatment of Wilson's disease in children". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 5, no. 4 (2013): 1129-1132. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2013.971