[The clinical analysis of mercury poisoning in 92 cases].

Objective: To summarize the clinical features of mercury poisoning diagnosed by blood and urine tests for improving the diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

Methods: Poisoning causes, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis were retrospectively reviewed in 92 in-patients with mercury poisoning in our hospital from January 2000 to April 2010.

Results: Of the 92 patients, 37 were male and 55 were female with an average age of 33.1 (2 - 65) years old. The mercury poisoning was caused by occupational exposure and non-occupational exposure, such as iatrogenic exposure, life exposure and wrong intake or suicidal intake of mercury-containing substances, mainly through respiratory tract, digestive tract and skin absorption. The most common clinical symptoms were as the followings: nervous system symptom, such as memory loss in 50 cases (54.3%), fatigue in 34 (37.0%), numb limb in 25 (27.2%), dizziness and headache in 22 (23.9%), cacesthesia in 20 (21.7%), fine tremor (finger tip, tongue tip, eyelids) in 15 (16.3%), insomnia and more dreams in 12 (13.0%); gastrointestinal symptoms: nausea in 16 (17.4%), abdominal pain in 14 (15.2%), stomatitis in 5 (5.4%); joint and muscle symptoms: muscle pain in 16 (17.4%), joint pain in 5 (5.4%); cardiovascular system: chest tightness, heart palpitations in 6 (6.5%); urinary system: edema in 9 (9.8%); other system: hidrosis in 20 (21.7%). After the treatment with sodium dimercaptopropane sulfonate (DMPS), the symptoms were gradually alleviated. Their gastrointestinal, cardiovascular symptoms were alleviated within 2 weeks; neurological symptoms were alleviated within 3 months; kidney damage showed a slower recovery and could be completely alleviated within 6 months.

Conclusions: Because of its diverse clinical symptoms, the mercury poisoning was easy to misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis; therefore the awareness of the disease should be further enhanced. Leaving from the poisoning environment timely and giving appropriate treatment with DMPS will lead to a satisfactory prognosis.