Ward 1983.

Methods	Randomized allocation Double blind allocation and asessment Sample size at entry: gold 75; placebo 46
Participants	Patients with active RA (definite or classical) Mean age ‐ 49 yrs Mean duration of disease ‐ gold 76 months; placebo 64 months No previous treatment with second line drugs
Interventions	Aurothiomalate ‐ First 3 weeks 10, 15, 25 mg IM weekly, thereafter 50 mg weekly for 19 weeks Treatment duration ‐ 22wks
Outcomes	Outcomes reported at baseline and week 22 (5.5 months) Efficacy measures ‐ Number of tender joints and score, number of swollen joints and score, grip strength, morning stiffness, functional class, physician and patient global assessment
Notes	Patients included in the analysis: 100% in the gold group 100% in the control group Quality score: 5
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Allocation concealment?	Low risk	A ‐ Adequate