[D-penicillamine does not affect the liver and kidney function in newborn infants nor the in vitro function of phagocytes].

D-penicillamine was introduced to treat neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia in 1973 and to prevent retinopathy of prematurity in 1980. In this study we investigated the renal and liver functions of neonates treated with DPA and the in vitro effect of the drug on superoxide anion generation and beta-glucuronidase release as well as on phagocytic and intracellular killing activation on human peripheral blood granulocytes. Our data concerning the renal and liver functions before and after 3 to 4 days DPA treatment reveal no pathological change during short-term administration in the neonatal period. Furthermore, none of the examined DPA concentrations influenced the phagocytic or killing activity of neutrophils.