ORAL CHRYSOTHERAPY IN RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS - MINIMUM EFFECTIVE DOSE

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 7  (2) , 160-168
Abstract
The dose-response to a new oral gold compound was studied in 28 patients with definite rheumatoid arthritis, divided in 4 groups of 7 patients, each treated with different doses of auranofin for 3 mo. Clinical and laboratory parameters were recorded weekly, and blood gold levels (BGL) were measured by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Daily doses of auranofin (6 and 9 mg) were most effective based on clinical and laboratory results. Correlation studies between BGL and percent decrease of humoral measurements, within the 3 mo. were statistically significant. Mean BGL, associated with clinical improvement, reached 0.73 .mu.g/ml and was accompanied by a 17.6% decrease from initial value of Ig[immunoglobulin]G, 17.1% of .alpha. 2-globulin, 48.9 RF [rheumatoid factor] titer and 25.9% of ESR.