title: Risk factors that may influence development of side effects of gold sodium thiomalate.
abstract: Two hundred and seventy-seven patients who had received gold sodium thiomalate (GST), were included in a retrospective study to identify those factors that might have influenced the development of side effects. Fifty-one per cent of patients were excluded due to side effects, especially skin rash, which affected 59% of those excluded. The duration of disease when GST therapy was commenced, female sex, and a history of smoking were identified as factors influencing the development of certain side effects. There was a high incidence of skin rash in smokers. Of 99 smokers, 40% developed dermatitis, whereas in 109 non-smokers, only 17% developed a rash (p less than 0.001). Other factors such as age, weight, and concurrent drug therapy, biochemical, haematological and immunological data, do not predict development of toxicity to GST.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003875:Drug Eruptions / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006052:Gold Sodium Thiomalate / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012306:Risk; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D006052:Gold Sodium Thiomalate