Clinical analysis of a case of acute mercury poisoning due to intramuscular injection of metallic mercury
10.20001/j.issn.2095-2619.20260413
- VernacularTitle:肌肉注射金属汞致急性中毒1例临床分析
- Author:
Qifeng WU
1
;
Ming HUA
;
Danxia FANG
;
Xia LI
;
Pin CAI
;
Yongguang ZHANG
Author Information
1. Department of Poison Control, Guangdong Province Hospital for Occupational Disease Prevention and Treatment,Guangzhou, Guangdong 510300, China
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Metallic mercury;
Intramuscular injection;
Acute poisoning;
Sodium dimercaptopropanesulfonate;
Clinical features;
Treatment
- From:
China Occupational Medicine
2026;53(2):196-200
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective To summarize the clinical features and treatment strategies of acute mercury poisoning caused by intramuscular injection of metallic mercury. Methods The clinical data of a patient with acute mercury poisoning following intramuscular injection of metallic mercury were collected, and a retrospective analysis of the diagnosis and treatment process was conducted. Results The patient was a 14-year-old boy who self-injected 20 g of metallic mercury into the left upper arm muscle. Clinical manifestations included fever, chest tightness, cough, and a painful mass at the injection site. Laboratory tests of the patient indicated that blood mercury level was 4.160 μmol/L, urinary mercury level was 6 545.50 μg/g creatinine, urinary retinol-binding protein was 6 556 μg/L, urinary β2-microglobulin was 8 726.48 μg/g creatinine, and urinary α1-microglobulin was 41.60 mg/L at day 11 after injection. Thoracoabdominal imaging revealed mercury deposition in the lungs, heart, liver, kidneys, and other organs. The patient's clinical symptoms were markedly relieved after one course of treatment with sodium dimercaptopropanesulfonate for mercury chelation. Subsequent treatment included continued mercury chelation therapy, debridement of muscle tissue at the injection site, removal of retained foreign bodies, and other supportive measures. Reexamination showed a blood mercury level of 2.810 μmol/L and urinary mercury level of 5 280 μg/L at day 127 after injection. Conclusion The clinical manifestations of intramuscular injection of metallic mercury poisoning differ from those of occupational mercury poisoning. Debridement of the injection site combined with sodium dimercaptopropanesulfonate chelation therapy can alleviate systemic symptoms and reduce mercury levels in such patients.
