Mucocutaneous reactions to gold: a prospective study of 74 patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
OBJECTIVE
To describe causality, morphology, course, and risk factors of mucocutaneous reactions to gold.


METHODS
A prospective study of 74 patients with rheumatoid arthritis starting with gold thioglucose.


RESULTS
Thirty-nine patients experienced an episode of gold dermatitis. Sixteen patients continued gold treatment. The estimated treatment withdrawal at 1 year was 26%. The clinical picture was variable and nonspecific. Gold dermatitis was associated with HLA-B35 and disease duration.


CONCLUSIONS
Mucocutaneous reactions to gold are nonspecific, therefore a causality assessment is necessary. Incidence is high, but treatment can often be continued with dose reduction and local steroids. The predictive value of risk factors is low.
van Gestel
A
A
Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Koopman
R
R
Wijnands
M
M
van de Putte
L
L
van Riel
P
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006051:Aurothioglucose / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001706:Biopsy; D003875:Drug Eruptions / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D015797:HLA-B35 Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology
D015797:HLA-B35 Antigen; D006051:Aurothioglucose