Fate of the thiomalate part after intramuscular administration of aurothiomalate in rheumatoid arthritis.

The excretory fate and plasma level of thiomalate were studied after intramuscular administration of auro-14C-thiomalate to 3 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The gold and the thiomalate parts separated in vivo, and the free thiomalate was excreted in the urine, rapidly at first and then slowly. After one day about 60% of the 14C-label had been recovered in the urine. The plasma level also declined rapidly. The results are in complete agreement with those previously described in animal experiments.