High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), coupled with an amalgamated gold electrochemical detector, to measure plasma and urine concentrations of D-penicillamine, was used to determine the pharmacokinetics of this drug following both its intravenous and oral administration in doses of 800 mg. After iv administration, plasma elimination half-life (T 1/2 beta) was 62.7 +/- 5.3 min; plasma clearance (CI) 560.7 +/- 42.8 ml/min; volume of distribution (Vd), 57.0 +/- 9.3 l; and % D-penicillamine excreted within 24 h, 42.1% +/- 6.2%. Following oral administration, T 1/2 beta was 60.7 +/- 8.2 min, % D-penicillamine excreted within 24 h, 21.2 +/- 2.3%; and fraction of absorption (f) 41.2 +/- 5.5%. Urinary copper excretion paralleled urine and plasma D-penicillamine concentrations.