Gold salts 4047274 223245141 2008-07-03T06:10:54Z Gxcf1 6598098 /* Side effects */ '''Gold salts''' describe ionic [[chemical compound]]s of gold. The term, which is a misnomer, has evolved into a euphemism for the gold compounds used in [[medicine]]. The application of gold compounds to medicine is called "chrysotherapy" and "aurotherapy."<ref>{{cite journal | author=Shaw III, C. F. | title=Gold-Based Medicinal Agents | journal=Chemical Reviews | year=1999 | volume=99 | pages=2589–600 | doi=10.1021/cr980431o}}</ref> The first reports of research in this area appeared in 1935,<ref>{{cite journal | author= Forestier J.| title= Rheumatoid arthritis and its treatment with gold salts - results of six years experience. | journal= J Lab Clin Med| year= 1935| volume= 20| issue= | pages= 827&ndash;40 | url= }}</ref> primarily to reduce [[inflammation]] and to slow [[disease]] progression in patients with [[rheumatoid arthritis]]. Most chemical compounds of gold, including some of the drugs discussed below, are not in fact salts. Gold compounds find wide use in electroplating,<ref>{{cite web | title=Electroplating | works=Electrochemistry Encyclopedia | author=Mordechay Schlesinger | url=http://electrochem.cwru.edu/ed/encycl/art-e01-electroplat.htm | date=September, 2002 | accessdate=2007-03-04}}</ref> and as [[reagent]]s in [[organic chemistry]]. ==Medical uses== ===Indications=== [[Gold]] compounds, which accumulate slowly in the body and, over time, reduce inflammation, especially related to [[rheumatoid arthritis]], [[inflammatory bowel disease]], [[psoriatic arthritis]], [[membranous nephritis]], [[lupus erythematosus]] and, infrequently, [[Juvenile arthritis|juvenile rheumatoid arthritis]] (JRA). The mechanism by which gold drugs operate to treat arthritis is a matter of scientific debate. Of the various mechanisms that have been suggested for the transportation of the drugs to their sites of action in the synovium, it is thought that in the blood stream the gold attaches to albumin. The thiol groups on the gold drug being exchanged for the cysteine cysteine-34 of this protein. After arrival at the synovium, the Au(I) again undergoes a second thiol exchange reaction at cell membrane transport proteins and enters the cell via the shuttle thiol mechanism. Once absorbed into the cell, gold is proposed to be linked to anti-mitochrondrial activity and induced cell apoptosis. The myriad of side effects associated with this class of prodrugs is ascribed to the nonspecific absorption and pharmacological action, thus many cells not linked with the Rheumatoid Arthritis immune response are affected. Some assert that gold drugs merely inhibit the function of the various components of the immune response associated with Rheumatoid Arthritis, rather than acting in a disease curing fashion. It is thought that gold affects the entire immune response (phagocytes, leukocytes, T-Cells...) and reduce its potency and limit its oxidizing nature, ending the cycle of joint inflammation and erosion. At present, gold salts are infrequently used to treat children with [[Juvenile idiopathic arthritis]] (previously termed Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis), as [[methotrexate]] is the convention. Gold salts are sometimes used for children with progressive polyarthritis who are unresponsive to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, methotrexate, and other medications. This treatment is expensive requiring frequent visits to the doctor and numerous lab tests. ===Administration=== Gold drugs can be administered orally or by intramuscular injection, in which case it is administered weekly for approximately three to five months before less-frequent doses begin. [[Auranofin]], in capsule form for oral administration, is marketed under the brand name Ridaura. [[Sodium aurothiomalate]] (Gold sodium thiomalate as brands Myocrisin UK, Aurolateor or Myochrysine U.S.) and [[aurothioglucose]] (Solganal in U.S.) are administered by injection. Regular urine tests to check for [[proteinuria|protein]] (indicating [[kidney]] damage) and [[blood test]]s are needed. ===Efficacy=== A [[2005]] review (Suarez-Almazor ME ''et al.'') reports that treatment with intramuscular gold (parenteral gold) reduces disease activity and joint inflammation. Gold salts taken by mouth are less effective than by injection. Three to six months are often required before gold treatment noticeably improves symptoms. A [[2002]] paper (Richards ''et al.'') chronicles the neurological side effects of gold salts reported in the medical literature. "[T]here are reports pointing to a possible involvement of naturally-occurring gold in the [[Central nervous system|nervous]] and [[gland]]ular systems, and evidence from historical sources of a possible efficacy of gold in therapy for neurological disorders," according to the study authors. "This research has the potential for re-establishing gold as a significant therapeutic agent in a much wider range of disorders than those for which it is currently used. And it could help in sorting out valid from invalid claims of benefits from supplementation." ===Side effects=== [[Adverse effect (medicine)|Side effects]] may develop after a significant accumulation of gold in the body. Gold compounds require up to two months to reach a steady state, and have a fairly long half life. In 10 days, only 70% is excreted, exacerbating toxicity problems.<ref>{{cite web | title=Mineral Therapy and the Use of Gold | author=Mark Sircus |publisher=International Medical Veritas Association | url=http://www.curesnaturally.com/Articles/Misc/Misc123.html#_edn1 | format=Footnote information}}</ref><!-- is this not a tertiary source ? Is there a better more direct source for this information than an uncited footnote in an email ? --> The potential benefits for patients with inflammatory bowel disease, skin rash or a history of bone marrow depression should be weighed against the potential risks of gold toxicity on previously compromised organ systems or with decreased reserve. Potential problems with detection and correct attribution of toxic effects must also be considered. Orally administered gold has fewer side effects than intramuscular injections. Common side effects of oral gold include [[anorexia (symptom)|decreased appetite]], [[nausea]], [[alopecia|hair thinning]] and [[diarrhea]], as well as problems affecting skin, blood ([[thrombocytopenia]]), kidneys, or lungs. Common side effects of injected gold include an itchy skin rash or mouth sores, with rare instances of kidney problems or [[myelosuppression|suppression of blood cell production]]. ===Potential future uses=== Research continued to examine the potential of gold salts as [[anti cancer]] agents. This research stemmed from the discovery that [[auranofin]] was toxic towards leukemia cells. It is also noted that a wide variety of the salts currently being researched are effective against [[cisplatin]] resistant cancer cells, highlighting their different but at present unknown modes of operation.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} Gold salts combined with [[Chloroquine]], an anti-malarial, show potential at treating resistant strains of malaria. It has been suggested in Japan that gold salts used for the treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis particularly gold thioglucose, may also be used for the treatment of [[bronchial asthma]]. ==Types of gold salts== Medical use: * [[Auranofin]] (UK & U.S.) * [[Aurothioglucose]] (Gold thioglucose) (U.S.) * [[Disodium aurothiomalate]] * [[Sodium aurothiosulfate]] (Gold sodium [[thiosulfate]]) <!-- who/where is this used mdically Feb-2007 ?--> * [[Sodium aurothiomalate]] (Gold sodium [[thiomalate]]) (UK) Industrial use: * [[Potassium]] gold cyanide (KAu(CN)<sub>2</sub>), containing 68.2% by weight of gold, is sometimes used for industrial purposes such as electro-plating; potential risks include occupational contact [[eczema]]. ==References== * Emery P, Suarez-Almazor M (2002). "Rheumatoid arthritis". ''[[Clinical Evidence]]'' (10): 1454–1476. PMID 12230730. * Kwoh CK, et al. (2002). "Guidelines for the management of rheumatoid arthritis". ''[[Arthritis and Rheumatism]]'', 46(2): 328–346. PMID 11840435. * Petiot P, Charles N, Vial C, McGregor B, Aimard G, Trillet M, Bady B. Rev Neurol ([[Paris]]), "Neurological complications caused by gold salts. Nosologic report apropos of a case" (article in French). 1993;149(10):562-5. PMID 7912843. * Richards DG, McMillin DL, Mein EA, Nelson CD. Gold and its relationship to neurological/glandular conditions. ''Int J Neurosci'' 2002;112:31-53. [http://meridianinstitute.com/ceu/ceu25gol.html MeridianInstitute.com] PMID 12152404. * Suarez-Almazor ME, Bennett KJ, Bombardier C, Clark P, Shea BJ, Tugwell P, Wells G, - 'Injectable gold for rheumatoid arthritis', ''[[Cochrane Library|Cochrane Review]]'' (2005) [http://www.cochrane.org/cochrane/revabstr/ab000520.htm Cochrane.org] PMID 10796386 <!--actual review performed in 2000, no update--> ==Footnotes== <references/> ==External links== *"[http://bchealthguide.org/kbase/topic/detail/drug/hw102829/detail.htm Gold salts for juvenile rheumatoid arthritis]". BCHealthGuide.org *"[http://diseasesdatabase.com/ddb5340.htm Gold salts information]". DiseasesDatabase.com *"[http://economist.com/science/displaystory.cfm?story_id=5572498 Gold fingered:] An unexpected discovery may help explain how old arthritis drugs work." ''[[The Economist]]'' (March 2, 2006) *"[http://www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/2006/03.02/13-gold.html HMS researchers find how gold fights arthritis:] Sheds light on how medicinal metal function against rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases." ''[[Harvard University Gazette]]'' (2006) *"[http://imva.info/essays.shtml Mineral Therapy and the Use of Gold]". Mark Sircus Ac, OMD, [[International Medical Veritas Association]] *"[http://medicinenet.com/aurothioglucose/article.htm Aurothioglucose is a gold salt used in treating inflammatory arthritis]". MedicineNet.com *"[http://www.orthop.washington.edu/uw/medications/tabID__3376/ItemID__76/Articles/Default.aspx About gold treatment: What is it?] Gold treatment includes different forms of gold salts used to treat arthritis." Washington.edu [[University of Washington]] (December 30, 2004) [[Category:Gold compounds]] [[Category:Immunosuppressive agents]] [[Category:Coordination compounds]]