Use of sodium aurothiomalate during lactation

The report concerns a mother who breast fed her infant whilst receiving sodium aurothiomalate for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. The milk:serum concentration ratio was not constant, reflecting the non-concurrence of the concentration-time profiles of gold in milk and maternal serum after i.m. injection. Gold was detected in the infant's serum. Calculations indicate that the weight-adjusted dose to the infant exceeded that received by the mother.