In vitro binding and pharmacokinetics of gold salts in plasma proteins and chelating agents.

The binding of sodium aurothiomalate, sodium aurothiosulphate and aurothioglucose to plasma proteins has been investigated in vitro. All gold compounds were bound to protein at a similar rate and had similar apparent affinity constants and binding capacities. Penicillamine (10 or 100 microgram/ml) was unable to chelate significant amounts of bound gold from plasma protein.