Therapeutic trials in muscular dystrophy. 1. Gold in murine dystrophy.

A trial of sodium aurothiomalate as an antiproteinase drug in the treatment of murine muscular dystrophy is reported. A blind controlled comparison of high (25 microgram/10 g body weight) and low dose gold (5 microgram/10 g body weight) with saline-injected control animals was made, all injections being given three times weekly. The body weights and functional ability of the mice were assessed at weekly intervals. No significant difference between the groups was observed. A trial of very high dose chrysotherapy (500 microgram of gold/10 g body weight) also showed no therapeutic benefit.