Fatal renal vasculitis and minimal change glomerulonephritis complicating treatment with penicillamine. Report on two cases.

Two cases with different and not previously described fatal renal complications during treatment with penicillamine are reported. A man with seronegative rheumatoid arthritis with features of systemic lupus erythematosus was treated with penicillamine for six months and developed a mild membranous glomerulonephritis and a severe renal vasculitis leading to uremia and death. A woman with primary biliary cirrhosis was treated with penicillamine for nine months and developed a nephrotic syndrome, the renal biopsy showing minimal change glomerulonephritis. The nephrotic syndrome responded to prednisone but the patient died, probably from septicemia. Penicillamine may thus cause glomerular damage without deposition of immune complexes. A restricted use of the drug is recommended.