Gold compounds have been used to treat diseases for centuries. The ancient Chinese thought ingesting gold would prolong life and increase vitality. In Europe in the sixteenth century, gold compounds were used to treat epilepsy and depression. In the late nineteenth century microbiologists discovered that gold inhibited the growth of tubercle bacilli, the organism responsible for tuberculosis. In 1929 doctors began using gold to treat RA, because of the mistaken notion that RA was caused by a tuberculosis infection. Though an infectious cause for RA has never been proven, the use of gold compounds was noted to have a positive effect on the symptoms of RA. As a result its use was continued, even without an understanding of how it worked.
Chrysotherapy or aurotherapy are terms used to describe treatment with gold compounds. Gold salts accumulate slowly in the body and, over time, reduce inflammation. Several injectable forms of gold and one oral form of gold have been used to treat RA. Initially injections are given every week. After a few months the interval between injections is gradually increased to two weeks, and eventually monthly. Treatment with gold compounds can lead to injuries of the bone marrow and kidneys. Therefore, an examination of the blood and urine are necessary before each injection. These test results had to be reviewed by the doctor before the injection, so this made treatment more expensive, and caused people to spend more time in the office. Treatment with gold injections is a slow process. Even trying to decide if gold treatment is successful takes a long time. It was not unusual to continue this treatment for four to six months before a decision could be reached regarding its effectiveness for that person. Great patience was called for!
More recently gold became available in capsule form (auranofin). Although this form of treatment is much more convenient than injectable forms of gold, it doesn't work as well, and it has more side effects, such as hair thinning, decreased appetite, nausea and diarrhea. Gold treatments frequently help RA, but most people are off the medication in two years or less because of a high level of side effects. Common side effects of gold treatment include abnormal blood counts, protein in the urine, and skin rashes. Other common side effects include sore tongue, sore gums, or disturbances of taste sensation.
Today, gold treatment is very seldom used for RA. It has largely been replaced by more effective and better tolerated medications.