Biomaterial Database

Reduction of peripheral blood lymphocytes in patients receiving gold therapy for rheumatoid arthritis. 1985

J G Hanly, and B Bresnihan

Peripheral blood lymphocytes were monitored prospectively in 10 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) receiving up to 1 g of sodium aurothiomalate. There was a significant fall in the absolute lymphocyte count from a mean +/- SEM of 1956 +/- 190/mm3 (1.956 +/- 0.19 X 10(9)/l) to 1232 +/- 210/mm3 (1.232 +/- 0.21 X 10(9)/l) (p less than 0.01). The number of of circulating lymphocytes fell in all patients by an amount which ranged between 108/mm3 (0.108 X 10(9)/l) and 1394/mm3 (1.394 X 10(9)/l), with a mean fall of 727/mm3 (0.727 X 10(9)/l). No significant change was noted in the total white cell count or total polymorphonuclear cell count over the same period. In contrast there was no change in the total lymphocyte count in an age and sex matched group of RA patients treated with penicillamine. This previously unreported observation may give new insight into the mechanism of action of gold salts in RA.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007958	Leukocyte Count	The number of WHITE BLOOD CELLS per unit volume in venous BLOOD. A differential leukocyte count measures the relative numbers of the different types of white cells.	Blood Cell Count, White,Differential Leukocyte Count,Leukocyte Count, Differential,Leukocyte Number,White Blood Cell Count,Count, Differential Leukocyte,Count, Leukocyte,Counts, Differential Leukocyte,Counts, Leukocyte,Differential Leukocyte Counts,Leukocyte Counts,Leukocyte Counts, Differential,Leukocyte Numbers,Number, Leukocyte,Numbers, Leukocyte
D008214	Lymphocytes	White blood cells formed in the body's lymphoid tissue. The nucleus is round or ovoid with coarse, irregularly clumped chromatin while the cytoplasm is typically pale blue with azurophilic (if any) granules. Most lymphocytes can be classified as either T or B (with subpopulations of each), or NATURAL KILLER CELLS.	Lymphoid Cells,Cell, Lymphoid,Cells, Lymphoid,Lymphocyte,Lymphoid Cell
D008297	Male		Males
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D005260	Female		Females
D006052	Gold Sodium Thiomalate	A variable mixture of the mono- and disodium salts of gold thiomalic acid used mainly for its anti-inflammatory action in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. It is most effective in active progressive rheumatoid arthritis and of little or no value in the presence of extensive deformities or in the treatment of other forms of arthritis.	Aurothiomalate,Gold Thiomalate,Sodium Gold Thiomalate,Aurolate,Gold Disodium Thiomalate, Monohydrate,Gold Thiomalic Acid,Mercaptobutanedioic Acid Monogold(1+) Sodium Salt,Miocrin,Miocrisin,Monogold (1+) Disodium Thiomalate,Myochrysine,Myocrisin,Myocrysine,Sodium Aurothiomalate,Sodium Thiomalatoaurate,Tauredon,Aurothiomalate, Sodium,Gold Thiomalate, Sodium,Sodium Thiomalate, Gold,Thiomalate, Gold,Thiomalatoaurate, Sodium
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001172	Arthritis, Rheumatoid	A chronic systemic disease, primarily of the joints, marked by inflammatory changes in the synovial membranes and articular structures, widespread fibrinoid degeneration of the collagen fibers in mesenchymal tissues, and by atrophy and rarefaction of bony structures. Etiology is unknown, but autoimmune mechanisms have been implicated.	Rheumatoid Arthritis