Localization of gold in synovial membrane of rheumatoid arthritis treated with sodium aurothiomalate. Studies by electron microscope and electron probe x-ray microanalysis.
The localization of gold in the synovial membrane of rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with sodium aurothiomalate was examined and quantitative analysis of epon-embedded sections was carried out with a wavelength dispersive x-ray microanalyser. Gold was only detected in the lysosomes of synovial lining type A cells and subsynovial mononuclear cells in the form of filamentous deposits and highly electron-dense granules, the latter being few in number. The concentration of gold within the lysosomes containing the characteristic deposits and granules was equivalent to that in epon-embedded standard specimens of freeze-dried albumin in which 2-0-87-4 mg/ml of gold was included. In addition, sulphur was detected in the lysosomes containing the filamentous deposits, but the S/Au x-ray signal ratio was not equal to that detected in sodium aurothiomalate. The significance of the coexistence of gold with sulphur in lysosomes is discussed.
D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004577:Electron Probe Microanalysis; D005260:Female; D006046:Gold / Q000032:analysis*; D006052:Gold Sodium Thiomalate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008247:Lysosomes / Q000032:analysis; D008875:Middle Aged; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000032:analysis* / Q000648:ultrastructure
D006052:Gold Sodium Thiomalate; D006046:Gold