title: Gold concentrations in blood fractions of patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with Myocrisin.
abstract: Gold levels in the plasma and blood cells of patients treated with the gold drug Myocrisin (sodium aurothiomalate) were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. There is a correlation between whole blood gold and plasma gold concentrations which is different for smokers and non-smokers. Most cellular gold is associated with the membrane and is present in concentrations approximately equivalent to the number of reactive sulphydryl groups on the exofacial surface of the cell. Since gold would be expected to react with SH groups and since these groups are vital for cellular function, a possible role for gold in modifying cellular metabolism is indicated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Technology, Yola, Nigeria.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Egila
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Littlejohn
authors.forename: W E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Sturrock
mesh_terms: D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D006046:Gold / Q000097:blood*; D006052:Gold Sodium Thiomalate / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D012907:Smoking / Q000378:metabolism; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D006052:Gold Sodium Thiomalate; D006046:Gold