Hypertension and erythromelalgia as prominent manifestations of mercury intoxication / 北京大学学报(医学版)

ABSTRACT

SUMMARY Mercury intoxication is a rare cause of severe hypertension. A case of mercury intoxication presented with severe hypertension and erythromelalgia was reported. A 10-year-and-5-month-old girl presented with recurrent rash and painful hands for 2 months, with seizure attack and episodic loss of consciousness for one hand half months. The girl was found to have red painful hands, a blood pressure 170/120 mm Hg(1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa), tachycardia and hypokalemia (2.83-3.25 mmol/L, reference value 3.5-5.5 mmol/L). An extensive investigation ensued. Elevated renin-angiotensin and aldosterone were demonstrated in plasma. Cranial MRI T2 weighed images showed widespread white matter signal abnormalities, which particularly involved parietal, occipital and frontal lobes. With hypertension controlled, white matter signal abnormalities weakened. Other symptoms included insomnia, nausea and paroxysmal abdominal pain. The girl was found to have a raised concentration of mercury in urine (0.171 mg/L, reference value