Alveolitis during chrysotherapy for rheumatoid arthritis.

A patient who developed dry cough and increasing breathlessness during chrysotherapy for seropositive rheumatoid arthritis is presented. Chest radiograms were repeatedly normal, but there was a moderate decrease in pulmonary diffusing capacity. Transbronchial lung biopsy showed alveolitis. No cellular immunity to gold salts could be demonstrated in vitro. Pulmonary function improved after withdrawal of gold, indicating that chrysotherapy rather than systemic rheumatoid disease was the cause of the alveolitis.