Mercury in House Paint as a Cause of Acrodynia

Abstract

IN 1948 Warkany and Hubbard¹ indicted mercury ingestion as an etiologic factor in acrodynia. Other reports establishing mercury as the most important cause of acrodynia soon followed.^{2 3 4 5 6 7 8} Dimercaprol (BAL), which chelates mercury, was quickly introduced as a therapeutic agent in 1948 but has given variable results.^{6 , 9 10 11 12 13 14 15} Edathamil calcium disodium (EDTA) when given for therapy of acrodynia did not significantly increase mercury excretion.¹⁶ Increased urinary elimination of mercury during penicillin therapy for infection has been observed,¹⁷ but the results of penicillin therapy in acrodynia have been equivocal.^{17 , 18} Aposhian^{19 , 20} has shown that N-acetyl-D,L-penicillamine is more effective than other penicillamine derivatives in protecting . . .