Tissue gold concentration in a rheumatoid arthritic receiving chrysotherapy

Abstract

Abstract Postmortem specimens from a patient with rheumatoid arthritis who had received 5 g of aurothioglucose were examined histologically, and their gold content was determined by activation analysis. The highest concentration of gold was found in the lymph nodes followed by the adrenal gland, renal cortex and other organs of the reticuloendothelial system. Comparatively low concentrations were found in tissues comprising the joint structure. Organs in which the greatest quantities of gold were stored include the bone marrow, liver, skin and bone. These findings demonstrate the body's capacity to store relatively large quantities of gold without adverse reaction, support the concept of a systemic rather than local mechanism of action (at the joint level) and demonstrate in vivo gold concentrations in the range expected to produce local cellular biologic effects.