A New Cutaneous Sign of Mercury Poisoning
Authors: Paul I. Dantzig
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2003)

Letters1 July 2003A New Cutaneous Sign of Mercury PoisoningPaul I. Dantzig, MDPaul I. Dantzig, MDColumbia University; New York, NY 10022 (Dantzig)Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-139-1-200307010-00023 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:Background: Long-term mercury poisoning is becoming a major health problem because of the extreme toxicity of mercury and its extensive pollution in the environment. However, mercury poisoning is difficult to diagnose. I report on 11 patients who contracted mercury poisoning by eating seafood. In these patients, poisoning manifested with a specific eruption characterized by nonpruritic, discrete, flesh-colored or slightly erythematous papules and papulovesicles. These lesions were small ( 1 mm in diameter) and correlated with serum mercury levels; they resolved when mercury levels decreased.Results: The patients ranged in age from 25 to 75 years, and duration ...References1. Bates B. Heavy metals and inorganic agents. Clinical Management of Poisoning and Drug Overdose. 1998;104:571-4. Google Scholar2. McNeil NI, Issler HC, Olver RE, Wrong OM. Domestic metallic mercury poisoning. Lancet. 1984;1:269-71. [PMID: 6143006] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Boyd AS, Seger D, Vannucci S, Langley M, Abraham JL, King LE. Mercury exposure and cutaneous disease. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2000;43:81-90. [PMID: 10863229] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Shenker BJ, Guo TL, Shapiro IM. Low-level methylmercury exposure causes human T-cells to undergo apoptosis: evidence of mitochondrial dysfunction. Environ Res. 1998;77:149-59. [PMID: 9600808] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. Ellenhorn MJ, Schonwold S, Ordag G. Ellenhorb's Medical Toxicology. 2nd ed. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins; 1997:1532-813. Google Scholar6. Bluhm RE, Bobbitt RG, Welch LW, Wood AJ, Bonfiglio JF, Sarzen C, . Elemental mercury vapour toxicity, treatment, and prognosis after acute, intensive exposure in chloralkali plant workers. Part I: History, neuropsychological findings and chelator effects. Hum Exp Toxicol. 1992;11:201-10. [PMID: 1352115] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar7. Graeme KA, Pollack CV. Heavy metal toxicity, Part I: arsenic and mercury. J Emerg Med. 1998;16:45-56. [PMID: 9472760] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: Paul I. Dantzig, MDAffiliations: Columbia University; New York, NY 10022 (Dantzig) PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byImpact of selenium on cerebellar injury and mRNA expression in offspring of rat exposed to methylmercuryCobalt-based dental alloy, allergy to cobalt, and palmoplantar pustulosisPersistent Palmar Plaques—Another Possible Cutaneous Sign of Mercury Poisoning 1 July 2003Volume 139, Issue 1Page: 78-80KeywordsAllergy and immunologyAtopic dermatitisBloodContact dermatitisParkinson diseasePreservativesPruritusSigns and symptomsSteroidsToxicity ePublished: 1 July 2003 Issue Published: 1 July 2003 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2003 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...