Gold Therapy: When Wealth Becomes Health
Written by Ayebamiebi Yousuo
Gold, from the beginning of the ages, has been known as a metric for wealth. The amount of gold can be correlated to how wealthy that individual is. But beyond a means of wealth identification, gold is also known for its health restoration, especially its role in the management of Rheumatoid Arthritis in the 19th Century.
What is Gold Therapy?
Gold Therapy, also known as “Chrysotherapy” or “Aurotherapy” is the management of disease conditions with the use of pharmaceutical agents derived from gold, e.g. Gold Sodium Thiomalate.
What is its indication for use?
Gold Therapy is primarily known for its role in the management of Rheumatoid Arthritis though it was first seen to have efficacy in the form of Gold Cyanide, against Mycobacterium tuberculosis in vitro.
Gold Therapy was highly utilized from its time of discovery in the early 19th century up to 1985 when Methotrexate became the first line of treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis.
How does this work?
The mechanism of action of gold compounds in the management of Rheumatoid Arthritis is not fully understood but it has been seen to have Anti-inflammatory, Immunomodulatory, Antirheumatic and Antimicrobial effects.
How is it administered?
Compounds of gold(Gold Sodium Thiomalate and Gold Sodium Thiosulfate) for gold therapy can be given orally but are more efficacious when given intramuscularly.
Why the switch from gold to methotrexate?
The use of gold was seen to have numerous adverse effects and several Rheumatoid Arthritis patients who started this therapy had to stop at some point cause of the devastating side effects. Such side effects include proteinuria associated with kidney damage, itching rash, ulcerations, and anemia.
Conclusion
Even as much research is going on in the field of medicine all intending to provide better therapy and to prolong life, we must not neglect the research into our mineral resources as a source of drugs in the management and treatment of ailments.
References
“About gold treatment: What is it? Gold treatment includes different forms of gold salts used to treat arthritis." Washington.edu University of Washington (December 30, 2004)
Foye WO, Lemke TL, Williams DA (1 September 2007). Foye's principles of medicinal chemistry. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. pp. 989–. ISBN 978-0-7817-6879-5. Retrieved 14 November 2010.
"Rheumatoid Arthritis". University of Washington Medicine
Written by Ayebamiebi Yousuo from MEDILOQUY