effect of intramuscular gold therapy on the course of rheumatoid arthritis

gold preparations are one of the oldest disease modifying drugs in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. this are different reports about the effects and complications of these compoumis. these opposite reports may he due to the difference in genetic ami ethnic background of patients. this study was designed to evaluate our results in gold therapy ami compare them with those of western countries. we evaluated the results of gold therapy in 75 rheumatoid arthritis patients. gold had good effects in 2/3 of patients anil adverse effects was found in 1/4. the effect of golti was appeared after 6 months on clinical parameters and after 3 months on laboratory data. tlie beneficial effect of golti was lost after 24 months of treatment.