title: [Neurologic symptoms in inhalation poisoning with metallic mercury].
abstract: Nineteen caisson workers had been exposed to metallic mercury vapours while digging tubes underneath the first district of Vienna (exposure between 470 and 2440 min; mean 1621 min). The blood mercury values on admission were between 29 and 166 micrograms/l (mean 75 +/- 34 micrograms/l). The main findings reported are clinical neurologic symptoms, psychic complaints, neurographic results and autonomic parameters (cardiovascular reflexes): 47% complained of headache and tiredness, 37% showed tremor and suffered from sleep disturbances, 26% showed hypersalivation, 16% changes in handwriting, and 11% slight dysarthria. The cardiovascular reflexes (autonomic parameters) were abnormal in 7 of 12 patients. On neurography the distal latency (median nerve) was pathologic in 47%, the distal latency (peroneal nerve) was pathologic in 26%, the antidromic sensory nerve conduction velocity (median nerve) was abnormal in 10%, the motor nerve conduction velocity, compound amplitude and vibratory threshold were normal.
authors.affiliation: Neurologische Universitätsklinik, Wien.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zeitlhofer
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Petzl
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cichini
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Meisinger
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Schuller
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wimberger
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mayr
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Strasser
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Jahn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001342:Autonomic Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008630:Mercury Poisoning / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000187:drug effects; D009420:Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000187:drug effects; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000187:drug effects; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational
vernacular_title: Neurologische Symptome bei Inhalationsvergiftung mit metallischem Quecksilber.