Lack of corneal chrysiasis in rheumatoid arthritis patients undergoing oral gold therapy.

Corneal chrysiasis is a common consequence of parenteral chrysotherapy in patients affected by rheumatoid arthritis. Concerning the factors and conditions that could be determinant for the gold accumulation in the cornea, there are contradictory opinions. Total or weekly gold dose and its accumulation quota, and the frequency of drug administration, seemed to be parameters to which corneal chrysiasis could be related. Since all these parameters are completely different during oral gold therapy, previous investigations on corneal chrysiasis are inapplicable to patients undergoing oral treatment. This study, performed on rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with auranofin, orally administered for 8-34 months, did not reveal any appreciable corneal deposits of gold.