Taste Dysfunction and Changes in Zinc and Copper Metabolism during Penicillamine Therapy for Generalized Scleroderma

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The taste function and the Zn and Cu levels in serum and urine were followed for up to 16 wk in 10 patients who were started on penicillamine therapy for generalized scleroderma (9 patients) and rheumatoid arthritis (1 patient). During therapy the serum Zn concentration remained unchanged, whereas the serum Cu concentration increased significantly during the first 4-5 wk and then tended to decrease. Urinary Cu rose significantly and remained considerably above the upper normal limit throughout the study. Six of the patients complained after about 4-5 wk of a decreased taste function, which was gradually restored whether the medication was stopped or continued. The alterations in the taste acuity for sweet, salt, sour and bitter significantly paralleled the variations in urinary Cu before and during therapy. Thus, the patients who showed the most pronounced loss of taste had a lower urinary Cu output than those whose taste acuity was less disturbed.