[Panhypogammaglobulinemia: a rare complication of parenteral gold therapy]

Secondary antibody deficiency is one of the rare adverse effects of chrysotherapy in rheumatoid arthritis. The plasma levels of all immunoglobulins fall into ranges significantly lower than the tolerable physiological minimum. The long-lasting panhypogammaglobulinemia can increase the risk of infection in the patient and, therefore, should be closely monitored. Hence, a record of immunoglobulin levels before and during therapy with gold compounds seems to be mandatory.