Severe enterocolitis complicating chrysotherapy

Abstract

Two patients with classical and definite rheumatoid arthritis who developed extremely severe diarrhea while receiving gold therapy are described. Clinical and laboratory hypogammaglobulinemia developed in both patients and was the cause of death of one of them; the other recovered after months of debilitating disease. Three similar cases were traced in the literature. Although rare, this enterocolitis should be regarded as a complication of chrysotherapy.