[Recurrent peripheral neuropathy caused by thallium poisoning].
A 28-years old woman, working as a secretary, developed a rapidly progressive paraplegia with burning pain in the lower limbs. She recovered within 4 months but relapsed shortly after she was discharged. There was flaccid tetraplegia, associated with hyperalgesia of the limbs, diffuse muscle atrophy, blindness and alopecia. The patient needed respiratory assistance for 2 months. Bilateral optic neuropathy and paraparesis persisted after a 17 months follow-up. The clinical picture suggested thallium poisoning, which was confirmed by high thallium concentration in plasma and urine. The most likely cause was accidental poisoning with rodenticides.
Labauge
R
R
Clinique Neurologique, Montpellier.
Pagès
M
M
Tourniaire
D
D
Favier
J P
JP
Blard
J M
JM
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000139:chemically induced*; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000139:chemically induced*; D012008:Recurrence; D013793:Thallium / Q000506:poisoning*
D013793:Thallium
Neuropathie périphérique récidivante par intoxication au thallium.