Gold salts have a number of actions at a cellular level which theoretically could either independently or in combination result in the suppression of the inflammatory response leading to the characteristic remission seen in patients receiving chrysotherapy for rheumatoid arthritis. Gold salts have a number of effects on peripheral blood monocyte and macrophage invasion of inflammatory sites as suggested by their ability to inhibit macrophage migration in response to known chemotactic factors. Once present within an inflammatory site, the presence of gold ions may inhibit both the ingestion and digestion of particulate matter, as suggested by both the in vivo and in vitro studies on phagocytic activity of macrophages exposed to gold salts. Finally, they may also be responsible for a reduction in antigen processing and their capability to interact with T-lymphocytes in the mediation of cell-mediated immune responses to appropriate antigenic stimuli.