Pulmonary toxicity with gold therapy

Gold-induced lung disease

“…This entity, first described in 1948 (Savilahti, 1948) was brought to wider medical attention in 1976 (Winterbauer, Wilske and Wheelis, 1976). Since then, about 20 cases have been described in the English literature (Geddes and Brostoff, 1976;Alarcon and Gotuzzo, 1976;Scharf et aL., 1977;Gould, McCormack and Palmer, 1977;Weaver and Law, 1978;Sepuya et al, 1978;James, Whimster and Hamilton, 1978;Tala et al, 1979;Limpisvasti and Jones, 1979;Podell et al, 1980;Smith and Ball, 1980;Scott et al, 1981). The typical picture is that of an acute or sub-acute onset of dyspnoea and cough in a patient on chrysotherapy.…”

Adverse Reactions With Oral and Parenteral Gold Preparations

“…Lung toxicity from gold is characterised by diffuse pulmonary fibrosis, as described in more than 20 case reports (Alarcon & Gotuzzo 1976;Geddes & Brostoff 1976;Gould et al 1977;James et al 1978;Levinson et al 1981;McCormick et al 1980;Miyachi et al 1975;Podell et al 1980;Savilhati 1948;Scott et al 1981;Smith & Ball 1980;Winterbauer et al 1976). Pulmonary fibrosis has followed treatment with sodium aurothiomalate and aurothioglucose, in doses ranging from 175mg to 131Omg.…”