Skin manifestations of mustard gas. A clinical study of 535 patients exposed to mustard gas

Momeni, Amir

doi:10.1001/archderm.128.6.775

Cited by 55 publications

(53 citation statements)

References 0 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Sulfur mustard (SM, di(2-chloroethyl) sulfide) is probably most well known for its use as the chemical weapon mustard gas [1][2][3][4] although SM and related alkylating agents have been investigated as anti-tumor therapies. As a weapon, SM exposure may be lethal, but its main function is to cause incapacitating injury to the eyes, respiratory tract or skin [5].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Treatment of keratin intermediate filaments with sulfur mustard analogs

Hess

Fitzgerald

2007

Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Sulfur mustard (SM) is an alkylating agent with a history of use as a chemical weapon. The chemical reactivity of sulfur mustard toward both proteins and nucleic acids coupled with the hours long delay between exposure and appearance of blisters has prevented the determination of the mechanism of blister formation. We have treated assembled keratin intermediate filaments with analogs of sulfur mustard to simulate exposure to SM. We find that treatment of intact filaments with chloroethyl ethyl sulfide (CEES) or mechlorethamine (MEC) produces aggregates of keratin filaments with little native appearing structure. Treatment of a mix of epidermal keratins 1/10 (keratin pair 1 and 10) and keratins 5/14 with a sulfhydryl-specific modification reagent also results in filament abnormalities. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that modification of keratins by SM would result in keratin filament destruction, leading to lysis of epidermal basal cells and skin blistering.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Treatment of keratin intermediate filaments with sulfur mustard analogs

Hess

Fitzgerald

2007

Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…SM has been used as a chemical warfare agent in many instances [2][3][4][5] . SM forms sulphonium ion in the body and alkylates DNA leading to DNA strand breaks and cell death 6 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Protective Effect of Quercetin Against Sulphur Mustard-inducedOxidative Stress in Mice

Gautam¹,

Vijayaraghavan²,

Pant³

et al. 2007

DSJ

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Sulphur mustard (SM) is a chemical warfare agent that causes serious blisters upon contact with human skin. SM alkylates DNA and several other macromolecules, and also induces oxidative stress. Quercetin, a bioflavonoid has wide pharmacological actions. The protective efficacy of quercetin (100 mg/kg, i.p. and 200 mg/kg, i.p.) was studied by administering three doses in mice against SM. The first dose was administered at 30 min prior, simultaneous, 2 h post or 24 h post, and two more doses on the next two days. SM was administered (in PEG 300) percutaneously at varying doses for survival and protection studies. SM was also administered at a dose of 2 LD 50 (19.3 mg/kg) with and without quercetin treatment and various biochemical markers were estimated 7 days after SM administration. Histological examinations of vital organs were also carried out. The animals administered with SM died at various days depending upon the dose. The body weight decreased significantly. Quercetin protected the mice significantly, in a dosedependent manner. The protection was better when the first dose of quercetin administered was 30 min prior or simultaneously. A significant decrease in reduced as well as oxidised glutathione and an increase in malondialdehyde, WBC count, RBC count, and haemoglobin were observed with 2 LD 50 SM. Quercetin at 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg doses significantly protected the biochemical markers when the first dose of quercetin administered was 30 min prior or as simultaneous treatment. The histological lesions induced by sulphur mustard on liver, spleen, and skin were also significantly protected by quercetin when the first dose was administered 30 min prior or as simultaneous treatment. The present study shows that percutaneous administration of SM induces oxidative stress and quercetin can protect it as a prophylactic agent.Keywords: Sulphur mustard, quercetin, oxidative stress, glutathione, malondialdehyde, DNA damage, prophylactic agent, chemical warfare agent . INTRODUCTIONThe organophosphorus nerve agents and the blistering agents continue to be threats not only as chemical warfare agents, but also from the terrorist organisations. Though the Chemical Weapons Convention is signed and ratified by several countries and the stockpiled chemical warfare agents are being destroyed, still the threat persists from the Defence Science Journal, Vol. 57, No. 5, September 2007, pp. 707-720 2007, DESIDOC 707 use of chemical weapons. The mechanism of action of the nerve agents is clearly understood and effective and accepted treatment protocols are known 1 . In spite of research over several decades, no satisfactory prophylactic or treatment regimen has evolved for sulphur mustard (SM), a well known blistering agent. So the search for a better antidote is being pursued the world over.

show abstract

“…Blisters may be large and painful and take months to heal. Once healed, the blistered skin may be hypopigmented or hyperpigmented (66). Very high doses of mustard may produce necrosis without vesication (67).…”

Section: Ch2-ch2-ci S Ch2-ch2-cimentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Very high doses of mustard may produce necrosis without vesication (67). The most sensitive areas of the body, those areas burned at the lowest concentrations and most severely burned overall, are the axillae and genitals (25,58,66). Borak and Sidell (32) (77).…”

Section: Ch2-ch2-ci S Ch2-ch2-cimentioning

confidence: 99%

Hazards of chemical weapons release during war: new perspectives.

Reutter

1999

Environ Health Perspect

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The two major threat classes of chemical weapons are mustard gas and the nerve agents, and this has not changed in over 50 years. Both types are commonly called gases, but they are actually liquids that are not re ly voatile. These agents were designed specifically to harm people by any route of exposure and to be effective at low doses. Mustard gas was used in World War I, and the nerve agents were developed shortly before, during, and after World War II. Our perception of the potency of chemical weapons has changed, as well as our concern over potential effects of prolonged exposures to low doses and potential target populations that indude women and cildren. Many of the toxicologic studies and human toxicity esmates for both mustard and nerve agents were designed for the purpose of quickly developing maximal casualties in the least sensitive male soldier. The 'toxcity" of the chemical weapons has not changed, but our perception of 'toxicity" has.

show abstract

Skin manifestations of mustard gas. A clinical study of 535 patients exposed to mustard gas

Cited by 55 publications

References 0 publications

Treatment of keratin intermediate filaments with sulfur mustard analogs

Treatment of keratin intermediate filaments with sulfur mustard analogs

Protective Effect of Quercetin Against Sulphur Mustard-inducedOxidative Stress in Mice

Hazards of chemical weapons release during war: new perspectives.

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About