Quantitation of gold in skin in chrysiasis

Skin, plasma, hair, and nail gold levels were determined in three groups of patients with rheumatoid arthritis comprising: I. Three patients on long term gold therapy exhibiting altered skin pigmentation (chrysiasis); II. Five patients on long term gold therapy exhibiting normal skin pigmentation; III. Two patients starting gold therapy. Group I had higher skin gold levels (50-140 mug/g) than Group II (7.5-13 mug/g) while Group II had minimal levels. Hair and nail gold levels were not much higher than gold levels in non-gold treated individuals. The possible role of skin in the storage or excretion of gold is discussed.