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.
Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
A
A
van Gestel
R
R
Koopman
M
M
Wijnands
L
L
van de Putte
P
P
van Riel
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