@article{ref1,
title="Toxicokinetics and toxicodynamics of elemental mercury following self-administration",
journal="Clinical toxicology (Philadelphia, Pa.)",
year="2008",
author="De Palma, Giuseppe and Mariotti, Orietta and Lonati, Davide and Goldoni, M. and Catalani, Simona and Mutti, A. and Locatelli, C. and Apostoli, P.",
volume="46",
number="9",
pages="869-876",
abstract="INTRODUCTION: Intravenous injection of mercury has seldom been reported, especially in cases of attempted suicide, and is associated with variable clinical outcomes. CASE REPORT: A young woman came to our attention after self-injecting and ingesting mercury drawn from 37 thermometers. The patient suffered lung embolization complicated by adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), toxic dermatitis, anemia, mild hepato-renal impairment, and died after 30 days. Mercury was monitored in biological fluids (blood, plasma, urine, and bronchoalveolar fluid) to study its toxicokinetics and to evaluate dose-effect relationships. Its urinary clearance significantly increased after a chelation challenge test with meso-2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) (median values of 2.48 and 8.85 before and after the test, respectively, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Mercury poisoning by intravenous injection is a clinical emergency, potentially leading to death. When injected, the element has a very slow clearance, mainly renal. Our data do not allow any conclusion about the effectiveness of chelation therapy.<p /><p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1556-3650",
doi="10.1080/15563650802136241",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15563650802136241"
}