Compartmental study on the pharmacokinetics of D-penicillamine

Summary An eight-compartment model was developed for the pharmacokinetics of D-penicillamine. The analysis shows that a simpler model, based on the assumption of one chemical form of penicillamine only, fails and that the concept of two different forms of penicillamine must be introduced. Most probably, it concerns the disulfide of penicillamine and its mixed disulfide with cysteine. The primary distribution volume for both compounds is the extracellular fluid. Binding to plasma proteins has no essential effect on the overall kinetics. The two disulfides are handled by the kidneys in a different manner.