Tissue injury by hot fluid containing nitrogen mustard.
Nitrogen mustards are analogous to sulfur mustard and have similar toxic effects on tissues. With the recent surge in terror activity, mustard could be used by terrorists. Recently a group of patients suffered from skin injury caused by hot fluid containing nitrogen mustard were treated. All the patients displayed eye symptoms such as eye pain, photophobia, excessive tearing, and blurred vision. One patient suffered from severe inhalation injury. Laboratory examination showed the decrease of white blood cell count, which may result from the loss of neutrophils. At the same time, platelets were at lower level during the first 8 days and gamma-glutamyltransferase (gamma-GT), a marker of oxidative stress, was significantly increased.
Wang
Guang-Qing
GQ
Burns Center, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, People's Republic of China. Guangqing_wang@yahoo.com
Xia
Zhao-Fan
ZF
D000062:Accidents, Occupational; D000328:Adult; D002057:Burns, Chemical / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents / Q000633:toxicity*; D004066:Digestive System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D005126:Eye Burns / Q000209:etiology; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D008297:Male; D008466:Mechlorethamine / Q000633:toxicity*; D008875:Middle Aged; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology; D010976:Platelet Count
D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents; D008466:Mechlorethamine