GOLD THERAPY IN RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS

Abstract

Patients (114) with rheumatoid arthritis were treated with gold sodium aurothiomalate (Myocrisin). Data obtained from 104 completed protocols showed that 70 patients (67.3%) benefited from chrysotherapy. Of these patients, 40 went into complete remission. Therapy was discontinued in 58 patients, side-effects accounting for this in 33 cases (31.8%). Adverse reactions included skin rashes in 41 (39%) and renal complications in 16 (14%); 7 (6%) developed hematological complications, which resulted in death in 2 cases. HLA tissue typing in 37 patients with side-effects showed no increase in the HLA Dw2 or HLA Dw3 antigen. There was a significant increase in the HLA DRw4 antigen in Caucasians and Negroes (P .ltoreq. 0.008 and P .ltoreq. 0.001, respectively).