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OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical features,treatment methods and prognosis of acute thallium poisoning.METHODS: The clinical data of 2 cases of acute thallium poisoning were analyzed retrospectively to observe its clinical features,therapeutic effect of blood purification and sodium dimercaptosulfonate,and prognosis.RESULTS: The typical triads of clinical features of the two cases of acute thallium poisoning were gastroenteritis,polyneuropathy and alopecia.Before treatment,the blood thallium level was 200.6 and 712.7 μg/L and the urine thallium level was 5 206.4 and 11050.2 μg/24 h respectively.After the combined treatment using blood purification and sodium dimercaptosulfonate,the blood thallium decreased to 31.6 and 14.6 μg/L and the urine thallium decreased to 175.2 and 265.3 μg/24 h.The two patients had a good prognosis.The result of re-examination showed that blood thallium was 7.9 and 0.6 μg/L and the urine thallium was 31.5 and 5.5 μg/24 h respectively in 2 and 5 months later.CONCLUSION: The combined treatment using blood purification and sodium dimercaptosulfonate is effective for acute thallium poisoning therapy.
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Objective To investigate the clinical and electrophysiological features and treatments for thallium poisoning. Methods Twelve cases of thallium poisoning patients were from hospital 307 of PLA between June 2012 and October 2017 and their data were retrospectively analyzed. Twelve sex-and age-matched healthy subjects were selected as control group. Result The clinical manifestations of thallium poisoning were mainly symptoms of nervous and gastrointestinal systems as well as hair loss. Thallium poisoning compromised function of motor nerves including the prolonged distal latency of ulnar and common peroneal nerve, the decreased amplitude and slowed nerve conduction velocity of common peroneal nerve and tibial nerve, which were statistically different from control group (P<0.05). Thallium poisoning also impaired function of sensory nerve including the prolonged distal latency and decreased amplitude of median , ulnar and sural nerve, the slowed nerve conduction velocity of median , ulnar, radial and sural nerve which were statistically different from control group (P<0.05 or P<0.01 ). Electroencephalogram (EEG) of 7 cases revealed mild abnormality EEG in 6 cases and moderate abnormality EEG in one case. Patients received potassium supplementation, diuresis, oral Prussian blue, intramuscular injection of sodium dimercaptopropanesulfonate and other treatment. Severe cases had good outcome after hemoperfusion and plasma exchange. Conclusions Thallium poisoning is rare in clinic and typical clinical features and electrophysiological examination are helpful to the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of diseases. Timely increasing thallium excretion and symptomatic support treatment can effectively improve the prognosis of the patients.
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Objective@#To investigate the efficacy of prussian blue (PB) or its combination with hemoperfusion (HP) in the treatment of acute thallium poisoning.@*Methods@#Forty-seven patients with acute thallium poisoning with complete data hospitalized in the 307th Hospital of PLA from September 2002 to December 2017 were enrolled, and they were divided into mild poisoning group (blood thallium < 150 μg/L, urinary thallium < 1 000 μg/L) and moderate-severe poisoning group (blood thallium ≥ 150 μg/L, urinary thallium ≥ 1 000 μg/L) according to the toxic degrees. All patients were given symptomatic supportive treatments such as potassium supplementation, catharsis, vital organ protections, neurotrophic drugs, and circulation support. The mild poisoning patients were given PB with an oral dose of 250 mg·kg-1·d-1, while moderate-severe poisoning patients were given PB combined HP continued 2-4 hours each time. The PB dose or frequency of HP application was adjusted according to the monitoring results of blood and urine thallium. Data of gender, age, pain grading (numeric rating scale NRS), clinical manifestations, blood and urine thallium before and after treatment, length of hospitalization and prognosis were collected.@*Results@#Of the 47 patients, patients with incomplete blood and urine test results, and used non-single HP treatment such as plasmapheresis and hemodialysis for treatment were excluded, and a total of 29 patients were enrolled in the analysis. ①Among 29 patients, there were 20 males and 9 females, median age of 40.0 (34.0, 49.0) years old; the main clinical manifestations were nervous system and alopecia, some patients had digestive system symptoms. There were 13 patients (44.8%) in the mild poisoning group with painless (grade 0) or mild pain (grade 1-3) with mild clinical symptoms, the length of hospitalization was 17.0 (14.2, 21.5) days. There were 16 patients (55.2%) in the moderate-severe poisoning group with moderate pain (grade 4-6) or severe pain (grade 7-10) with severe clinical symptoms, the length of hospitalization was 24.0 (18.0, 29.0) days. ② After treatment, the thallium concentrations in blood and urine in the mild poisoning group were significantly lower than those before treatment [μg/L: blood thallium was 0.80 (0, 8.83) vs. 60.00 (40.00, 120.00), urine thallium was 11.30 (0, 70.10) vs. 370.00 (168.30, 610.00), both P < 0.01], the thallium concentrations in blood and urine in the moderate-severe poisoning group were also significantly lower than those before treatment [μg/L: blood thallium was 6.95 (0, 50.50) vs. 614.50 (245.00, 922.00), urinary thallium was 20.70 (1.95, 283.00) vs. 5 434.00 (4 077.20, 10 273.00), both P < 0.01]. None of the 29 patients died, and their clinical symptoms were improved significantly. All the 27 patients had good prognosis without sequela in half a year follow-up, and 2 patients with severe acute thallium poisoning suffered from nervous system injury.@*Conclusion@#In the acute thallium poisoning patients, on the basis of general treatment, additional PB in mild poisoning group and PB combined with HP in moderate-severe poisoning group can obtain satisfactory curative effects.
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As a result of a series of thallium poisoning events, the rare element thallium has attracted wide attention. For nearly a decade, the mechanisms of thallium poisoning and treatment measures have become hot research topics. Preliminary results showed that thallium was absorbed by gastrointestinal tract, respiratory tract and skin, then distributed in the body widely. The thalium concentration in kidneys was the highest, folowed by salivary glands. Thallium ions can replace potassium ion in body and influence the activity of several enzymes. Moreover, thallium can antagonize calcium ions and affect heart function. Clinically, thallium induces peripheral nerve poisoning, gastrointestinal symptoms, mucosal inflammation, hair loss and visual damage. Examination of 24-hour urine thallium concentration is the most accurate way to assess thallium poisoning. If urine thallium concentration is higher than 5 μg/L, it is of diagnostic significance. The clinical treatment measures include reducing the absorption, accelerating elimination and practicing symptomatic treatment. Hemoperfusion has been reported to be effective in eliminating absorbed thallium.
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@#ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical manifestations, rehabilitation evaluation and treatment for Thallium poisoning. MethodsA patient with Thallium poisoning was reviewed. ResultsGastroenteritis, peripheral polyneuropathy and alopecia were the typical symptoms of Thallium poisoning. After the shortwave therapy, medium frequency electrotherapy and physical therapy, the index of sensory, extremities perimeter and muscle strength, sitting-stand-walking, ADL, and emotions were apparently improved. ConclusionComprehensive rehabilitation with shortwave therapy, medium frequency electrotherapy and physical therapy might be effective treatments for the patients with Thallium poisoning.
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@#ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical manifestations, rehabilitation evaluation and treatment for Thallium poisoning. MethodsA patient with Thallium poisoning was reviewed. ResultsGastroenteritis, peripheral polyneuropathy and alopecia were the typical symptoms of Thallium poisoning. After the shortwave therapy, medium frequency electrotherapy and physical therapy, the index of sensory, extremities perimeter and muscle strength, sitting-stand-walking, ADL, and emotions were apparently improved. ConclusionComprehensive rehabilitation with shortwave therapy, medium frequency electrotherapy and physical therapy might be effective treatments for the patients with Thallium poisoning.
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In this study nine cases of thallium poisoning in a series of homicidal poisoning were analyzed in order to provide more information concerning thallium poisoning. It was found that the most common clinical feature of thallium poisoning was peripheral neuropathy and paraesthesia was more common than amyasthenia. Understanding of these clinical characteristics of thallium poisoning was helpful to early identification and differential diagnosis. Since the early administration of Prussian Blue, as a specific antidote for thallium poisoning, can substantially improve the prognosis, it is of great importance to establish a correct and early diagnosis.