Monosodium acid methanearsonate (M.S.M.A.) poisoning in man

ABSTRACT

A case of self-poisoning by the weed-killer monosodium acid methanearsonate is reported. Complications observed included gastritis, deafness, myocarditis, hepatitis, nephritis, peripheral neuropathy and eosinophilia. Transverse white bands (Aldrich Mee's lines) appeared on the finger nails eight weeks later, and severe bilateral sensorineural deafness, an hitherto undescribed complication, was still present after one year. There is need for an increased awareness of the toxic effects of this arsenical used locally (AU)