title: Auranofin. New oral gold compound for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: Eight patients with rheumatoid arthritis were treated with SK & F D-39162 (auranofin), a new oral gold compound which was effective in suppressing adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats. Clinical and humoral parameters were studied during a 3-month period of drug administration followed by a 3-month period under placebo. The drug was absorbed, well tolerated, and its action was manifested by a drop in the mean IgG blood levels in the third week of treatment accompanied by clinical improvement after 5 weeks of oral gold intake. Together with IgG changes, an increase of the albumin ratio was observed, as well as a decrease of alpha2-globulin and rheumatoid factor titres. From a total number of 60 swollen joints found initially in the 8 patients only 17 were swollen at week 12 and 9 at week 15. Although the number of patients treated was too small to allow definite conclusions, a follow-up study under placebo of clinical and laboratory changes in the same patients during another 3-month period showed that IgG serum levels rapidly reverted preceding a flare up of disease activity after withdrawal of the drug. This confirmed a direct role in cause-effect relation played by the new oral gold compound.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D006051:Aurothioglucose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006046:Gold / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010720:Phosphines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D010720:Phosphines; D006051:Aurothioglucose; D006046:Gold