Use of D-Penicillamine in the Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemias

D-penicillamine (DPA) was first recognized as a potential benefit for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia (NHBI) caused by hemolytic diseases or immaturity of UDP-glucuronyltransferase enzyme. During this time there was a remarkedly low incidence of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in the infants treated with DPA. Later, our studies were replicated in other institutes in Hungary, Poland, U.S. A., India and Mexico. It is important to note that there was no intolerance or short- or long-term toxicity of the medication, in spite of the fact that in the newborn period DPA was used 10-20 times higher doses than those in adult.