Peripheral polyneuropathy due to chronic use of topical ammoniated mercury.
BACKGROUND
Despite their potentially disastrous side effects, topical mercury salts can still be found as ingredients in some over-the-counter preparations or local remedies.


METHODS
Peripheral polyneuropathy as a result of chronic ammoniated mercury poisoning was studied and followed over 2 years. A 36-year-old man developed peripheral polyneuropathy following chronic perianal use of an ammoniated mercury ointment. Highly elevated blood and urine mercury levels were found. Sural nerve biopsy showed mixed axonal degeneration-demyelination. There was progressive improvement of his symptoms over 2 years but neurophysiological examination revealed incomplete recovery.


CONCLUSIONS
The availability of safer drugs should result in a complete ban of these dangerous compounds.
Deleu
D
D
College of Medicine, Sultan Qaboos University, Al-Khod, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman. deleu@gto.net.om
Hanssens
Y
Y
al-Salmy
H S
HS
Hastie
I
I
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D000641:Ammonia / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001003:Anal Canal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000294:innervation / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008627:Mercuric Chloride / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008628:Mercury / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000187:drug effects; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013497:Sural Nerve / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology
D004366:Nonprescription Drugs; D008627:Mercuric Chloride; D000641:Ammonia; D008628:Mercury; C028431:mercuric chloride, ammoniated