Peripheral lymphocyte depletion in gold sodium thiomalate-treated rheumatoid arthritis patients.

It has been reported that gold sodium thiomalate treatment of rheumatoid arthritis reduces the number of peripheral blood lymphocytes. In a prospective, double-blind, randomized trial comparing gold sodium thiomalate, auranofin, and placebo in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, we investigated absolute lymphocyte counts. We found that peripheral lymphocyte counts decreased, but there was no correlation with clinical change in disease activity.