The nephrotic syndrome as a complication of gold therapy

Abstract

Abstract A patient with rheumatoid arthritis developed a reversible nephrotic syndrome secondary to gold therapy. A review of the world literature revealed 18 other case reports of the nephrotic syndrome apparently associated with the administration of gold salts. Renal tissue was available for study in only 8 of these; membranous glomeruionephritis was the predominant lesion. This rare complication of gold therapy appears to have a good prognosis. Two thirds of the patients have recovered from the nephrotic syndrome.