Trace elements and acute phase reactants in gold treated rheumatoid arthritis patients

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Immunology
• Rheumatology

Background:

• Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) involves abnormal concentrations of trace elements, sulfhydryl groups, amino acids, and serum proteins, collectively termed the phase reaction.
• These biochemical alterations are characteristic of chronic inflammatory conditions, including RA.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically profile phase reactants in rheumatoid arthritis patients at disease onset.
• To evaluate the modulation of these phase reactants during chrysotherapy (gold sodium thiomalate treatment).

Main Methods:

• Establishing a baseline profile of phase reactants in RA patients.
• Monitoring changes in these profiles during weekly intramuscular administration of gold sodium thiomalate.
• Analyzing individual patient data for correlations between phase reactant patterns and treatment effects.

Main Results:

• Successful chrysotherapy demonstrated the capability to revert abnormal phase reaction measures toward normal levels.
• Significant variability was observed in individual phase reactant profiles, influencing eventual beneficial or toxic effects of treatment.
• Preliminary analysis indicated no specific phase reactant parameters could predict therapeutic outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Chrysotherapy can normalize the phase reaction in rheumatoid arthritis, but individual responses vary.
• Further extended observations and analysis of individual profiles are necessary to understand inflammation modulation by chrysotherapy.
• The phase reaction serves as a marker of inflammation in RA, influenced by therapeutic interventions like gold therapy.