A case of argyria after colloidal silver ingestion.
BACKGROUND
Argyria is often considered an entity of the past, one which has largely disappeared with the cessation of silver usage in oral medications. However, with the practice of colloidal silver ingestion in current "alternative health" treatments, argyria should be considered in the differential diagnosis of blue-gray hyperpigmentation.


METHODS
A single case report with clinicopathological correlation.


RESULTS
Histological examination of skin biopsy specimen, which showed perieccrine brown-black granules, verified that colloidal silver rather than a prescribed medication was the source of the patient's dyspigmentation.
Chang
Anne Lynn S
AL
Department of Dermatology, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, CA 94305, USA. alschang@stanford.edu
Khosravi
Vista
V
Egbert
Barbara
B
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001129:Argyria / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D002792:Cholestyramine Resin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003102:Colloids; D000529:Complementary Therapies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000188:drug therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D017495:Hyperpigmentation / Q000473:pathology; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D006984:Hypertrophy / Q000150:complications; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011467:Prostate / Q000473:pathology; D018030:Silver Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy
D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D003102:Colloids; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D018030:Silver Compounds; D002792:Cholestyramine Resin