CUTANEOUS DRUG-REACTIONS TO GOLD SALTS

Objective. Evaluate the clinical features of skin reactions to gold sa lts. Introduction. Gold dermatitis is described in the literature as a group of reactions non-specifically associated with these drugs. Pati ents and methods. Ten patients (7 males, 3 females, mean age 58.6 year s) with a skin reaction were studied over a 6 year period. All were tr eated with Allochrysine(R) for rheumatoid arthritis (n = 8), rhizomeli c pseudopolyarthritis (n = 1) or arthropathic psoriasis (n = 1). Resul ts. The delay to the first signs was from 2 weeks to 8 months. Three l ichenoid eruptions (including two with buccal lesions and two which fo llowed an autonomous course), 2 pityriasis rosea (one with eosinophili a and one with liver disease), 2 eczematoid dermatoses and one urticar ia were observed. Pathology examinations (8/10) were in agreement with clinical diagnosis. Imputability was 14 (1 case), 13 (8 cases) and 12 (1 case). Discussion. The clinical features observed were variable an d in agreement with a particular clinical situation. They were not spe cific to gold salts and cannot be qualified as ''gold dermatitis''. Tw o autonomous and severe lichenoid eruptions were observed. Generalized lesions were associated with biological signs. This situation must be considered as a marker of severity.