Action of gold salts on the inflammatory response and inflammatory cell function.

Information relating to the effect and mechanism of action of gold salts on acute and chronic inflammatory processes has been reviewed. Gold salts are effective in suppressing various aspects of the acute inflammatory process although large gaps exist in the knowledge of the mechanisms involved. Available evidence indicates that gold salts affect many biochemical pathways and that interaction with enzymes plays a major role in their pharmacology. Because they are more difficult to investigate, the action of gold salts on various important aspects of chronic inflammation have not yet received much attention.