The lymphocyte transformation test and gold hypersensitivity.

Gold metabolism in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with gold compounds—reinvestigated

“…It has been proposed that the mechanism of action of gold and its clinical effectiveness (1 81 19) may be mediated via the inhibitory action of gold on the lysosomal enzymes; acid phosphatase, &glucuronidase and cathepsin; by its ability to bind to sulphydryl groups (16,20) and that some of the toxic manifestations of gold may represent individual hypersensitivity reactions to it (21).…”

Delay in the Development of the Allergic Response to Metals Following Intratracheal Instillation

“…This has special relevance where the metal may be present in the atmosphere and in haled as a dust. Occupational exposure to metals such as beryllium [4,13], chromium [11], nickel [5,8], cobalt [1], gold [3,14] and platinum [6,10] are among those which are known to be especially hazardous. Since the experiments of Chase [2] it has been known that exposure to sensitizers by the oral route induces a depression of the al lergic response to organic compounds in an imals and man [7],…”

Nephrotoxicity of gold salts, D-penicillamine, and allopurinol

“…Gold salts may be able to act as a hapten, and specific IgE antibodies against gold salts have been detected in the sera of rheumatoid arthritis patients with some mucocutaneous and hematologic adverse re action to gold salts [50,51]. A positive lymphocyte transformation test to gold salts is also seen in some rheumatoid arthritis patients with hematologic side effects after chrysotherapy [52]. Derot et al [53] reported a rare type of gold induced nephropathy, fatal acute tubular necrosis.…”

“…Electron microscopy reveals the existence of characteristic filamentous, electron dense cytoplasmic inclusions in various renal cells at high frequency [22, 37-39, 44, 45]. These filamentous inclusions may be complexes containing gold and other molecules [50,52,53]. The inclusions are present chiefly in proximal tubular epithelial cells, interstitial macrophages, and rarely in mesangial cells and visceral epithelial cells, but not within the basement membrane or subepithelial electron den se deposits.…”