title: Immune thrombocytopenia and elemental mercury poisoning.
abstract: Three cases of severe mercury toxicity occurring within a family are reported. Two cases of thrombocytopenia occurred in this family and represent the second such report in the literature of an association between elemental mercury toxicity and thrombocytopenia. Three of the children presented with a combination of dermatologic and neurologic manifestations reminiscent of acrodynia or pink disease. Each of the four children in this family were treated with dimercaptosuccinic acid. The hazard of vacuuming spilled mercury and appropriate clean-up procedures are described.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine and Environmental Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City 52242-1100, USA.
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Fuortes
authors.forename: D N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Weismann
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Graeff
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Bale
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tannous
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Peters
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis; D008630:Mercury Poisoning / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D011696:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D008628:Mercury