Complications of gold therapy and their management.

Early recognition of manifestations of gold intoxication is important to the treatment of such complications. Proper dosage schedules should be followed and blood and urine frequently examined. Most toxic manifestations subside, but those which become worse or which do not subside on withdrawal of the gold should be treated with BAL (2, 3-Dimercaptopropanol).BAL has a toxicity of its own and is painful on injection. Since BAL combines with gold, the therapeutic effect of the metal may be lost after such treatment. The beneficial effects of methionine and methionine plus BAL in treatment of experimentally induced gold intoxication of animals suggests such combined therapy in the treatment of clinical complications of gold poisoning. A schedule of combined antidotes is outlined.