Gold metabolism in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with gold compounds--reinvestigated.

Absorption of gold from injected sites occurs rapidly, reaching its peak in blood between 4 and 6 hours. In plasma, 95% of gold is bound to albumin. Three patients that were studied from the beginning of weekly therapy showed a progressive stepwise rise in plasma gold levels up to the sixth week. Urinary excretion was greatest during the first day postinjection while fecal excretion was greatest during the middle of the week. The blood levels, as well as excretion, varied from patient to patient. Patients on maintenance therapy excreted 39, 16, 12 and 10% of the injected dose in the first, second, third and fourth weeks postinjection, respectively. There were no significant differences in blood gold levels in patients who showed a good therapeutic response, no therapeutic benefit or toxicity.

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