The effect of smoking on the distribution of gold in blood

The uptake of gold by the red blood cells (RBC) of patients treated with aurothiomalate (GSTM) was greatly potentiated by smoking. The ratios of gold concentrations in RBC to the concentrations in plasma were 0.35 +/- 0.07 (mean +/- SE, n = 14) in smokers and 0.028 +/- 0.003 (n = 23) in non-smokers. Gold uptake by RBC in vitro was also greater in smokers than in blood from non-smokers. Thiocyanate appears to be a major factor which enhances the uptake of gold by RBC. The toxicity of GSTM was not altered by smoking but side effects occurred earlier in smokers.