Trace elements in the treatment of rheumatic conditions.

The role of trace metallic elements (copper, selenium, zinc, gold) in chronic inflammatory states is of great interest because many of them are co-factors in metabolic processes involving articular tissues and immune system function. Deficiencies of several of these have been documented in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Other than for the clinically approved gold compounds, there exists only inconsistent evidence for a therapeutic role of trace metallic elements in the management of rheumatoid arthritis.