Acrodynia

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Acrodynia
Other namesBilderbeck's, Selter's, Swift's and Swift-Feer disease.
SpecialtyEmergency medicine Edit this on Wikidata

Acrodynia is a medical condition which occurs due to mercury poisoning. The condition of

pain and dusky pink discoloration in the hands and feet is due to exposure or ingesting of mercury. It was known as Pink Disease (due to these symptoms) before it was accepted that it was just mercury poisoning.[1]
The word acrodynia is derived from the Greek: ακρος, which means end or extremity, and Greek: οδυνη, which means pain. As such, it might be (erroneously) used to indicate that a patient has pain in the hands or feet. The condition is known by various other names including hydrargyria, mercurialism, erythredema, erythredema polyneuropathy, Bilderbeck's, Selter's, Swift's and Swift-Feer disease.

Symptoms and signs

Besides

teeth, and nails, transient rashes, hypotonia and photophobia. Other symptoms may include kidney dysfunction (e.g. Fanconi syndrome) or neuropsychiatric symptoms (emotional lability, memory impairment, insomnia).[citation needed
]

Thus, the clinical presentation may resemble pheochromocytoma or Kawasaki disease.[citation needed]

There is some evidence that the same mercury poisoning may predispose to

low sperm count).[2]

Causes

Mercury compounds like

antiseptics or antimicrobial drugs for syphilis, typhus and yellow fever.[3]
Teething powders were a widespread source of mercury poisoning until the recognition of mercury toxicity in the 1940s.[4]

However, mercury poisoning and acrodynia still exist today.

thermometers.[6]

Diagnosis

Removal of the inciting agent is the goal of treatment. Correcting fluid and electrolyte losses and rectifying any nutritional imbalances (vitamin-rich diets, vitamin-B complex) are of utmost importance in the treatment of the disease.[citation needed]

The chelating agent meso 2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid has been shown to be the preferred treatment modality. It can almost completely prevent

neuropathies and chronic toxicity, although it is not approved for such uses. It has a less favorable adverse effect profile than meso 2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid. [citation needed
]

Hemodialysis with and without the addition of L-cysteine as a chelating agent has been used in some patients experiencing acute kidney injury from mercury toxicity. Peritoneal dialysis and plasma exchange also may be of benefit.[citation needed]

Tolazoline (Priscoline) has been shown to offer symptomatic relief from sympathetic overactivity. Antibiotics are necessary when massive

miliaria rubra, is present.[citation needed] This can easily progress to bacterial secondary infection with a tendency for ulcerating pyoderma.[citation needed
]

References

  1. PMID 12023189
    .
  2. PMID 8292944
    .
  3. S2CID 7970810
    .
  4. PMID 11619497
    .
  5. PMID 12538551
    .
  6. PMID 10699136
    .

External links

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