Oral chrysotherapy in rheumatoid arthritis: minimum effective dose.

We studied the dose-response to a new oral gold compound in 28 patients with definite rheumatoid arthritis, divided in 4 groups of 7 patients, each treated with different doses of auranofin for 3 months. Clinical and laboratory parameters were recorded weekly, and blood gold levels (BGL) measured by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Six and 9 mg daily doses of auranofin were most effective based on clinical and laboratory results. Correlation studies between BGL and percent decrease of humoral measurements, within the 3 months were statistically were statistically significant. Mean BGL, associated with clinical improvement, reached 0.73 microgram/ml, and was accompanied by a 17.6% decrease from initial value of IgG, 17.1% of alpha 2-globulin, 48.9% of RF titer and 25.9% of ESR.