Long-term effects of mercury intoxication in the peripheral nervous system

Efeitos tardios pela intoxicação com mercúrio no sistema nervoso periférico

Female, 63 years old, 11 years of progressive distal paresthesia, paresis and atrophy of the limbs. The electrophysiological examination showed severe axonal polyneuropathy involving both motor and sensory fibers. There was evidence of dense and minute images in the hands and elbows in the radiological image (Figure). The patients had a history of previous surgery with the use of a mercury column to monitor the arterial pressure. Her serum levels of mercury (12 years after the procedure) were 130 mcg per liter (reference 0-10) and the urinary levels were 765 mcg per liter (reference 0-10). Accidents like this have been reported before, but only for acute intoxication¹.

References

• ¹
  Kang SH, Park SW, Moon KY. Postoperative systemic dissemination of injected elemental mercury. J Korean Neurosurg Soc 2011;49:245-247.

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  Aug 2014

History

• Received
  06 Feb 2014
• Reviewed
  16 May 2014
• Accepted
  04 June 2014