Question

A 20-year-old man ingested a quantity of fungicide containing dimethyl mercury. Blood mercury level was 2, 800 ug/L at 2 hours after ingestion, declining to less than half this value at 12 hours. Chelation therapy commenced at approximately 4.5 hours. Hemodialysis with N-acetylcysteine infusion was initiated at 1 ½ days. The patient survived with normal results for a series of neurologic examinations extending 1 year.

1. Discuss the biochemical transport and biochemical transformations that mercury may have undergone in this patient.

2. Discuss the chemical/biochemical basis for chelation therapy.

Answer 1

1,The ingestion of mercury is absorbed readily by the gastrointestinal tract and subsequently enters syystemic circulation,which facilitates the delivery of mercury ions to targeted organs,exposure to mercury induces changes in the central nervous system,results in fatique,irritability,behavioural changes,headache, tremours, dysartria, hearing and cognitive loss,hallucinations,incoordinations and death.

2,Chelation therapy is the treatment method for the heavy metal poisoning like mercury,iron, arsenic, and lead the chelation therapy involves injection a type of medications called chelating agent or chelator. common chelating agent are EDTA,Dimercaprol,Dimercaptosuccinic acid.the chelating agents administer through the orall rute or intravenous route , the metal attache withe the agent from the circulation and eleminated through urine.