[Argyria--an almost-forgotten dyschromia].
A 79-year-old woman presented with a long history of grey-blue discoloration of the light-exposed areas. Her face, forearms, and the backs of both hands were affected. The proximal parts of her fingernails were impressively discolored, but her toenails were not affected. The patient reported that she had received oral therapy with the silver-containing drug Gastrarctin in 1959. The diagnosis of argyria was confirmed by documenting high tissue levels of silver in light-exposed skin. Argyria has become uncommon as medications containing silver are no longer employed and occupational protection for those with exposure to silver salts has become more refined.
Stadie
Volker
V
Universitätsklinik und Poliklinik für Dermatologie und Venerologie, der Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Saale. volker.stadie@medizin.uni-halle.de
Marsch
Wolfgang Christian
WC
D000368:Aged; D001129:Argyria / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D001706:Biopsy; D003875:Drug Eruptions / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D010787:Photosensitivity Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D018030:Silver Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012835:Silver Nitrate / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology
C506728:Gastrarctin; D018030:Silver Compounds; D012835:Silver Nitrate