Morphological changes in submandibular lymph nodes after subcutaneous implantation of gold alloys.

Functional activity of cells in regional lymph nodes of the major salivary glands was studied in rats after subcutaneous implantation of gold alloys. Alloy 900 modified the function of regional lymph nodes.

High frequency of contact allergy to gold sodium thiosulfate. An indication of gold allergy?

When gold sodium thiosulfate was added to the patch test standard series, positive reactions were obtained in 8.6% of 823 consecutive patients with suspect contact allergy. The test reactions were clinically of an allergic type and, in several cases, long-lasting. There was no correlation with other allergens in the standard series. In a special study on 38 patients with contact allergy to gold sodium thiosulfate, the following principal findings were obtained: positive patch tests to the compound itself in dilute concentration; positive patch tests to potassium dicyanoaurate; negative patch tests to gold sodium thiomalate, sodium thiosulfate, and metallic gold; positive intradermal tests to gold sodium thiosulfate. Our findings make gold sodium thiosulfate the 2nd most common contact allergen after nickel sulfate. It is suggested that a positive skin test to gold sodium thiosulfate represents gold allergy.

[Pharmacokinetics of gold after administration of aurokeratinate (author's transl)]. / Das pharmakokinetische Verhalten von Gold nach Gabe von Aurokeratinat.

Aurokeratinate (Auro-Detoxin) was administered intramuscularly to patients with chronic rheumatoid arthritis, using two different dosage schedules and measuring serum gold concentration. (1) Using slowly rising doses (as generally practised) the gold level gradually rose to 3.2 microgram/ml after four weeks (before the ninth injection), without reaching cumulation equilibrium. Elimination from serum occurred during this phase, with a half-life of 3-5 days. When treatment was continued at about 25 mg gold twice weekly, the cumulation equilibrium was reached with a minimal value at 3.5 microgram/ml and a maximal one of 6 microgram/ml, elimination half-life then being increased to nine days. During the subsequent maintenance treatment with 65 mg gold once a month the serum-gold concentration fell to about 1 microgram/ml, maximal values being about 6 microgram/ml, with an elimination half-life of 11 days. (2) With a constant dose of about 25 mg gold twice weekly, cumulation equilibrium was reached after two weeks (3.4 microgram/ml before the fifth injection), while on 50 mg gold every 14 days as maintenance dose the serum concentration was between 2 microgram/ml minimally and 6 microgram/ml maximally. At the modified dosage the drug was well tolerated.