Six cases of poisoning after a parenteral organic mercurial compound (Merthiolate)

Abstract

Summary The case histories of four children and two adults who were accidentally given toxic amounts of Merthiolate are recorded. The possible modes of action of Merthiolate in causing symptoms are discussed. Five out of the six patients died, and necropsy showed extensive renal tubular necrosis in each case, and in two, evidence of diffuse intravascular coagulation.

Delayed management of giant omphalocele using silver sulfadiazine cream: an 18-year experience

“…As the degree of visceraabdominal disproportion is usually too great to permit immediate closure of the abdominal wall, a staged approach must be used. There are many methods of temporary closure and/or topical coverage described in the literature, with all methods having their supporters and detractors [21,22]. Although many children can be successfully closed using a silo in the neonatal period, those with prematurity, significant pulmonary hypoplasia and/or cardiac anomalies, and those with chromosomal abnormalities often do not tolerate reduction of a silo and require initial nonoperative management as a bridge to delayed closure [19,23].…”

Heavy metal poisoning: management of intoxication and antidotes

“…Toxicity has been observed with large amounts of thimerosal in reports of both accidental and intentional exposure [109][110][111][112][113]. There are limited data on toxicity from low dose exposures similar to that seen with vaccines.…”

Are Neuropathological Conditions Relevant to Ethylmercury Exposure?

“…These blood mercury levels are orders of magnitude greater than those expected in a vaccinated infant (5.1 lg Hg/l was the highest concentration in a 2-month-old infant upon vaccination) (Pichichero et al 2002). Additional reports of acute toxicity associated with ethylmercury exposure included the administration of immune globulin (gamma globulin) and hepatitis B immune globulin (Lowell et al 1996), choramphenicol formulated with 1000 times the proper dose of thimerosal as a preservative (Axton 1972), thimerosal ear irrigation in a child with tympanostomy tubes (Rohyans et al 1984) and thimerosal treatment of omphaloceles in infants (Fagan et al 1977). The total doses of thimerosal administered in these reports of acute toxicity ranged from *3 mg/kg to several hundred mg/kg, compared to 50 lg of thimerosal per 0.5 ml dose or approximately 25 lg of ethylmercury per 0.5 ml dose in a vaccinated child.…”