The influence of cigarette smoking on blood gold distribution during chrysotherapy.

Plasma and erythrocyte gold concentrations were measured in 35 patients taking gold sodium thiomalate (GSTM) for rheumatoid arthritis. In 6 patients with adverse effects attributable to gold therapy at the time of sampling, gold concentrations in plasma and erythrocyte fractions were no different from those without adverse effects. A significant difference was seen in the distribution of gold in the blood of cigarette smokers compared to non-smokers, with smokers having higher erythrocyte and lower plasma gold concentrations. A prospective study on 15 patients commencing treatment with GSTM showed that the higher concentrations of erythrocyte gold seen in smokers were achieved within the first 2 weeks of treatment.