Acute myocardial infarction following gold sodium thiomalate induced vasomotor (nitritoid) reaction

A vasomotor (nitritoid) reaction occurred following an initial injection of gold sodium thiomalate (GST; Myochrysine) in a 69-year-old man with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). An acute anterior wall myocardial infarction, documented by serial electrocardiographic and serum enzyme changes, developed immediately thereafter. A second patient, a 49-year-old man with RA and a history of GST-associated vasomotor reactions, was monitored clinically and electrocardiographically after GST administration. Sinus tachycardia developed and peripheral blood pressure fell within 2 minutes of injection, simultaneous with the onset of vasomotor symptoms. Vasomotor reactions from GST may compromise myocardial perfusion by their action on arteriolar smooth muscle, and thus result in peripheral vasodilatation, or they may act by adrenergic discharge initiated by such a reaction, and thus increase myocardial work and oxygen demand. Aurothioglucose (Solganal), rarely produces vasomotor reactions, and may be preferred to GST in elderly RA patients with concomitant cardiovascular disease or atherosclerosis.