Sodium-gold thyosolphatum therapy: an open, viewed, multicenter trial in rheumatoid arthritis patients followed for two years

Objective: To evaluate if parenteral gold-therapy with Sodium-Gold Thyosolphatum is effective and safe for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis we began an open, multicenter trial. Methods: 126 rheumatoid arthritis patients were treated with Sodium-Gold Thyosolphatum for two years. Efficacy, quality of life, progression of joint damage, inflammatory parameters and side effects were evaluated. Results: Gold salts reduced joint inflammation and improved subjective and objective symptoms, quality of life and activity of illness within 6 months. Side effects appeared in 13,8% of all cases and regressed, promptly, when gold therapy stopped. The poor efficacy caused the interruption and the change from the gold therapy to others diseasemodifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMRDs) in 17,8 % of the patients. Conclusions: The follow-up showed Sodium-Gold Thyosolphatum was effective in Rheumatoid Arthritis and the survival in therapy was of 77,8% to one year and of 68,4% to two years.