Heidari B, Noroozi Z,
Volume 59, Issue 1 (7 2001)
Abstract
To determine the complications of gold sodium thiomalate therapy in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 32 patients with active RA (27 female, 5 male) treated for a mean period of 28 ? 14 weeks were studied. From these patients, 62.5 (46-79) percent showed at least one drug reaction. Pruritus was the most common complication occurred in 59 (42-76) percents, and was accompanied by skin rush in 37 (15-57) percents of cases. Renal, mucosal and post-injection complication developed, each in 16 (3-29) and percents of patients. Hematologic and pulmonary reaction occurred in 12.5 (1-24) and 9 (1-19) percents of cases respectively. Drug reaction resulted to discontinuation of gold therapy in 19 (5-32) percents of patients. Majority of drug reactions occurred during the first 15 weeks of therapy. In comparison to reports coming from other studies, drug reactions in Iranian patients were more frequent but less severe.
