Ho Bryan S J, Lin Ja-liang, Huang Chung-Chi, Tsai Ying-Huang, Lin Meng-Chih
Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University, Taipei, Taiwan.
J Toxicol Clin Toxicol. 2003;41(1):75-8. doi: 10.1081/clt-120018275.
Acute inhalation of mercury fumes or vapors is a rare but frequently fatal cause of acute lung injury. This report describes a rare cause of mercury inhalation from Chinese red.
An 87-year-old male inhaled the vapors from heating Chinese red (Cinnabar, mercury sulphide) intended to treat his foot ulceration. He subsequently developed acute lung injury (progressive dyspnea and acute respiratory failure) that was treated with mechanical ventilation. DMPS (2,3-Dimercapto-1-propanesulfonic acid) and penicillamine were used as chelating agents, and methylprednisolone pulse therapy was used to treat his pulmonary disease. Despite being extubated once, the patient eventually died from profound hypoxemia.
A rare case of mercury intoxication was due to inappropriate use of an alternative medicine, Chinese red. This case serves as a reminder of the toxicity of the noxious gas from this substance and the importance of being familiar with alternative medicines.
急性吸入汞烟雾或蒸汽是急性肺损伤的一种罕见但常致命的原因。本报告描述了一种罕见的因使用辰砂导致汞吸入的情况。
一名87岁男性吸入了加热辰砂（朱砂，硫化汞）产生的蒸汽，目的是治疗他的足部溃疡。随后他出现了急性肺损伤（进行性呼吸困难和急性呼吸衰竭），接受了机械通气治疗。二巯丙磺钠（2,3 - 二巯基 - 1 - 丙磺酸钠）和青霉胺被用作螯合剂，甲泼尼龙冲击疗法用于治疗他的肺部疾病。尽管患者曾一度拔管，但最终因严重低氧血症死亡。
一例罕见的汞中毒病例是由于不当使用替代药物辰砂所致。该病例提醒人们注意这种物质产生的有害气体的毒性以及熟悉替代药物的重要性。
