[Effects of chrysotherapy on various immunological parameters in rheumatoid polyarthritis]

The effects of chrysotherapy on various immunological parameters were studied in 60 cases of rheumatoid arthritis, either classical or as defined by the ARA. There was a significant fall in serum immunoglobulin levels and in rheumatoid factor. The serum levels of C3 and C4 did not show any significant modifications. At the same time, the serum albumin level rose, suggesting that gold salts do not inhibit protein synthesis. There was a reduction in the total number of leukocytes, affecting lymphocytes more than polymorphs. Finally, there was no significant modification of the response to mitogenes during chrysotherapy. The increase in the lymphocyte response to PHA coincided with improvement in the disease.