title: A clinicopathological approach to sulfur mustard-induced organ complications: a major review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sulfur mustard (SM), with an old manufacturing history still remains as potential threat due to easy production and extensive effects.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Increasing studies on SM indicates the interest of researchers to this subject. Almost all human body organs are at risk for complications of SM. This study offers organ-by-organ information on the effects of SM in animals and humans.
  
  
  METHODS
  The data sources were literature reviews since 1919 as well as our studies during the Iraq-Iran war. The search items were SM and its all other nomenclatures in relation to, in vivo, in vitro, humans, animals, eye, ocular, ophthalmic, lungs, pulmonary, skin, cutaneous, organs and systemic. Amongst more than 1890 SM-related articles, 257 more relevant clinicopathologic papers were selected for this review.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SM induces a vast range of damages in nearly all organs. Acute SM intoxication warrants immediate approach. Among chronic lesions, delayed keratitis and blindness, bronchiolitis obliterans and respiratory distress, skin pruritus, dryness and cancers are the most commonly observed clinical sequelae.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ocular involvements in a number of patients progress toward a severe, rapid onset form of keratitis. Progressive deterioration of respiratory tract leads to "mustard lung". Skin problems continue as chronic frustrating pruritus on old scars with susceptibility to skin cancers. Due to the multiple acute and chronic morbidities created by SM exposure, uses of multiple drugs by several routes of administrations are warranted.
authors.affiliation: Immunoregulation Research Center, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran. ghasemi518@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ghasemi
authors.forename: Parviz
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Owlia
authors.forename: Mohammad Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Jalali-Nadoushan
authors.forename: Shahryar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pourfarzam
authors.forename: Ghasem
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Azimi
authors.forename: Mohammad-Ebrahim
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Yarmohammadi
authors.forename: Jalaleddin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shams
authors.forename: Faramarz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fallahi
authors.forename: Sakine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moaiedmohseni
authors.forename: Athar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moin
authors.forename: Roya
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yaraee
authors.forename: Mohammad Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Vaez-Mahdavi
authors.forename: Soghrat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Faghihzadeh
authors.forename: Zuhair
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Mohammad Hassan
authors.forename: Mohammad-Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Soroush
authors.forename: Mohammad-Mehdi
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Naghizadeh
authors.forename: Susan K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Ardestani
authors.forename: Tooba
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ghazanfari
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000187:drug effects; D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents / Q000633:toxicity*; D005123:Eye / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000187:drug effects; D009151:Mustard Gas / Q000633:toxicity*; D009420:Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000187:drug effects; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents; D009151:Mustard Gas