An unusual cause of asymmetric rheumatoid involvement in the hands

Gold wedding bands: Attenuation of Heberden’s nodal expression in osteoarthritis

“…Systemic toxicity now limits its use [1]. Three prior publications had documented the apparent protective effect of a gold ring in erosive arthritis [4][5][6]. In the first case report by Bolosiu and Parasca [4], a 54-year-old female with Sjogren's syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis of 25 years duration showed sparing from erosive changes in the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint of the left ring finger.…”

“…Three prior publications had documented the apparent protective effect of a gold ring in erosive arthritis [4][5][6]. In the first case report by Bolosiu and Parasca [4], a 54-year-old female with Sjogren's syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis of 25 years duration showed sparing from erosive changes in the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint of the left ring finger. Bolosiu [7] later hypothesized that the sparing of the PIP joint in their patient was not from the gold in the ring but was from a mechanical effect of the ring.…”

Protective effect of gold rings and rheumatoid arthritis

“…A few years ago we published a similar observation2 that contradicts the hypothesis that the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint of the left ring finger would have remained less affected by the disease because of lymphatic drainage of the gold from the ring worn distally to it.…”