Solberg Y, Alcalay M, Belkin M
Medical Corps, Israel Defense Forces, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel.
Surv Ophthalmol. 1997 May-Jun;41(6):461-6. doi: 10.1016/s0039-6257(97)00021-0.
Sulfur mustard is a chemical warfare agent which was widely used during World War I and more recently in conflicts in the Middle East. This highly toxic compound causes severe dermal, gastrointestinal, respiratory and ocular injuries. It acts as an alkylating agent that induces structural changes and, hence, destruction of nucleic acids and proteins, impairing the cell's normal homeostasis and eventually causing its death. Sulfur mustard reacts rapidly with ocular tissues, and after a latent period of a few hours the patient starts suffering from severe eye pain, photophobia, excessive lacrimation and blindness. The injury, which is restricted to the anterior segment of the eye, may cause long-lasting incapacity in large numbers of casualties. Approximately 0.5% of the severely wounded victims may develop late complications which require prolonged ophthalmologic observation and therapy. In light of the ever-present threat of mustard chemical warfare against military and civilians, physicians worldwide should be aware of its grave effects and know how to care for its victims.
硫芥是一种化学战剂，在第一次世界大战期间被广泛使用，最近在中东冲突中也有使用。这种剧毒化合物会导致严重的皮肤、胃肠道、呼吸道和眼部损伤。它作为一种烷基化剂，会引起结构变化，从而破坏核酸和蛋白质，损害细胞的正常稳态并最终导致细胞死亡。硫芥与眼部组织迅速发生反应，经过数小时的潜伏期后，患者开始出现严重的眼痛、畏光、流泪过多和失明症状。这种仅限于眼前段的损伤可能会导致大量伤亡人员长期丧失能力。约0.5%的重伤受害者可能会出现晚期并发症，需要长期的眼科观察和治疗。鉴于硫芥化学战对军事人员和平民始终存在威胁，全世界的医生都应该意识到其严重影响，并知道如何救治受害者。
