A double blind placebo controlled trial was carried out over a 6-month period on 17 patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) to assess the effect of the second line antirheumatic drug, D-penicillamine. The patients included 13 with peripheral joint involvement. No significant improvement over placebo was detected in a variety of clinical and laboratory indices in the patients receiving active treatment. This controlled trial would not support a use for penicillamine in AS.