Item |
Information |
Drug Groups
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approved |
Description
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Auranofin is a organogold compound classified by the World Health Organization as an antirheumatic agent. Auranofin appears to induce heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) mRNA. Heme oxygenase 1 is an inducible heme-degrading enzyme with anti-inflammatory properties. |
Indication |
Used in the treatment of active, progressive or destructive forms of inflammatory arthritis, such as adult rheumatoid arthritis. |
Pharmacology |
Auranofin is a gold salt used in treating inflammatory arthritis. Gold salts are called second-line drugs because they are often considered when the arthritis progresses in spite of antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs and corticosteroids). |
Toxicity |
Oral, rat: LD50 = > 2000 mg/kg. Symptoms of overdose may include diarrhoea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and symptoms of hypersensitivity (such as skin rash, hives, itching, and difficulty breathing). |
Affected Organisms |
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Humans and other mammals |
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Elimination |
Approximately 60% of the absorbed gold (15% of the administered dose) from a single dose of auranofin is excreted in urine; the remainder is excreted in the feces. |
References |
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Jeon KI, Byun MS, Jue DM: Gold compound auranofin inhibits IkappaB kinase (IKK) by modifying Cys-179 of IKKbeta subunit. Exp Mol Med. 2003 Apr 30;35(2):61-6.
[Pubmed]
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Kim IS, Jin JY, Lee IH, Park SJ: Auranofin induces apoptosis and when combined with retinoic acid enhances differentiation of acute promyelocytic leukaemia cells in vitro. Br J Pharmacol. 2004 Jun;142(4):749-55. Epub 2004 May 24.
[Pubmed]
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Venardos K, Harrison G, Headrick J, Perkins A: Auranofin increases apoptosis and ischaemia-reperfusion injury in the rat isolated heart. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol. 2004 May-Jun;31(5-6):289-94.
[Pubmed]
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Hafejee A, Winhoven S, Coulson IH: Jessner's lymphocytic infiltrate responding to oral auranofin. J Dermatolog Treat. 2004 Sep;15(5):331-2.
[Pubmed]
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Rigobello MP, Folda A, Baldoin MC, Scutari G, Bindoli A: Effect of auranofin on the mitochondrial generation of hydrogen peroxide. Role of thioredoxin reductase. Free Radic Res. 2005 Jul;39(7):687-95.
[Pubmed]
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External Links |
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