title: [Chronic neurological syndrome resulting from intoxication with metallic uranium (author's transl)].
abstract: In 1972, a male patient, then 44-year-old, developed foot cramps and leg pain together with increasing gait disorders and a tendency to fall backwards. In 1976, an extrapyramidal syndrome with ataxia, nystagmus and peripheral neuropathy was discovered on neurological examination. The symptoms persisted and remained of obscure origin until 1979, when a detailed aetiological enquiry disclosed that during at least the first three years of his illness the patient had had on his desk a bar of metallic uranium which he frequently handled. Stool analysis showed significant uranium levels. In the absence of any other cause, it would appear that the neurological syndrome was due to intoxication with uranium. Although this had not been previously described in man, there are occasional reports of uranium toxicity in laboratory animals.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001259:Ataxia / Q000139:chemically induced; D001480:Basal Ganglia Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005243:Feces / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D009759:Nystagmus, Pathologic / Q000139:chemically induced; D004369:Pentetic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D014501:Uranium / Q000032:analysis / Q000506:poisoning*
chemical_list: D014501:Uranium; D004369:Pentetic Acid
vernacular_title: Intoxication par l'uranium métallique. Manifestations neurologiques chroniques.