[Long-term therapy with gold salts in rheumatoid arthritis. Review of the literature and personal contribution].

The present study concerns the controversial subject of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) therapy and particularly use of orally administered gold salts (auric triethylphosphine-Auranofin). It contains the results of a study conducted on 10 patients affected with RA who were treated with auric triethylphosphine associated with conventional therapy for a period varying from 4 to 8 years. The efficacy of this therapy in these patients was comparable to that observed in a survey of other studies. The authors conclude that there are advantages offered to RA patients utilizing chrysotherapy and particularly Auranofin can be administered for an extended period without the development of collateral effects in other organs or systems.