Acute poisoning with gold cyanide.

A case of deliberate ingestion of an electroplating solution containing gold cyanide is described. Despite the use of an antidote, and supportive treatment for cyanide poisoning, the patient died after 13 hours. Sublethal cyanide and high red blood cell gold levels suggest acute gold toxicity as the most likely cause of death. Evidence for this is discussed and recommendations are made for the treatment of cyanide poisoning.