Citation

Eyer F, Felgenhauer N, Pfab R, Drasch G, Zilker T. Clin. Toxicol. (Phila) 2006; 44(4): 395-397.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/15563650600671795

PMID

16809143

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Intravenous injection of elemental mercury (Hg) is rare and considered relatively harmless. Treatment recommendations vary and the effectiveness of chelation therapy is controversial.
CASE REPORT: A 27-year-old man intravenously injected 1.5 mL of elemental Hg. Within 12 hours he became febrile, tachycardic and dyspneic. Physical examination was unremarkable. X-rays showed scattered radiodense deposits in the lung, heart, intestinal wall, liver and kidney. The serum Hg level on admission was 172 microg/L and peaked on day 6 at 274 microg/L. Cumulative renal elimination during a five day oral treatment period with 2,3-dimercaptopropane-1-sulfonate (DMPS) and meso-2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) was 8 mg and 3 mg, respectively.
CONCLUSION: Although urinary excretion could be enhanced during chelation therapy, Hg deposits in organs resulted in negligible elimination of mercury compared to the exposed dose.

Language: en

Keywords

Adult; Chelating Agents; Colon; Heart Ventricles; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Kidney; Liver; Lung; Male; Mercury; Mercury Poisoning; Radiography; Succimer; Suicide, Attempted; Unithiol