Prevalence of eosinophilia during gold therapy for rheumatoid arthritis.

The prevalence of eosinophilia in 82 rheumatoid arthritis patients receiving gold sodium thiomalate (GSTM) and 30 patients receiving auranofin (AF) was determined in a retrospective study. Eosinophilia occurred in 21% taking GSTM and in 13% on AF. The simultaneous occurrence of toxicity and eosinophilia occurred in 14% receiving GSTM and in 10% receiving AF. In contrast, eosinophilia only occurred in 24% of those with suspected toxicity receiving GSTM and in 30% of those with suspected toxicity receiving AF. The value of eosinophilia as a marker of toxicity is discussed.