How does Trientine work?

Trientine(Trientine) is a divalent metal chelator mainly used to treat Wilson's disease (rare disease). Wilson's disease is a hereditary disease in which abnormal copper metabolism causes copper to accumulate in the liver, brain and other organs, leading to liver damage, neurological symptoms and other complications. Trientine combines with excess copper ions in the body to form a soluble complex and promotes copper excretion, thereby effectively reducing copper accumulation and slowing down disease progression.

1. Copper chelation: The main function of trientine is to chelate copper ions to form a stable complex, making copper unable to combine with cells and tissues in the body. This way, copper cannot accumulate in the liver and other organs, thereby reducing tissue damage caused by excess copper.

2. Increased copper excretion: After trientine is combined with copper, the complex formed is excreted through urine, increasing copper excretion and reducing copper accumulation in the body, especially in the liver and nervous system.

3. Reduce copper toxicity: Since copper is an essential trace element, when the concentration in the body is too high, it will produce toxicity and damage cells and organs. By effectively reducing the concentration of copper in the body, trientine reduces the toxic effects of copper on the liver, brain and other organs, and relieves the symptoms of the disease caused by it.

4. Nervous system protection: The therapeutic effect of trientine is not only reflected in the improvement of liver function, but also relieves nervous system symptoms to a certain extent, such as tremor, movement disorders, etc. By reducing the accumulation of copper in the nervous system, trientine can effectively delay the progression of neurological symptoms and improve patients' quality of life.

The principle of action of trientine is mainly by chelating excess copper ions, promoting the excretion of copper and reducing the accumulation of copper in the body, thereby slowing down the progression of Wilson's disease and improving the liver function and neurological symptoms of patients. It is an effective treatment option, especially for patients with penicillamine intolerance.

Keyword tags: trientine, principle of action, copper chelator,Wilson's disease, copper excretion, neuroprotection

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