The usefulness of chelation therapy for the remission of symptoms caused by previous treatment with mercury-containing pharmaceuticals: a case report
Cases Journal 2009, 2:199 doi:10.1186/1757-1626-2-199
Serafina Corsello (scorsello3@aol.com)
Alessandro Fulgenzi (alessandro.fulgenzi@unimi.it)
Daniele Vietti (danielevietti@gmail.com)
Maria Elena Ferrero (mariaelena.ferrero@unimi.it)
Abstract
Serafina Corsello (scorsello3@aol.com)
Alessandro Fulgenzi (alessandro.fulgenzi@unimi.it)
Daniele Vietti (danielevietti@gmail.com)
Maria Elena Ferrero (mariaelena.ferrero@unimi.it)
Abstract
Introduction A great deal of data regarding the toxicology of mercury has been
recently reported. Although the most common human exposures to mercury are
currently mercury vapour from amalgam tooth fillings, methylmercury from seafood and
ethylmercury as a preservative in vaccines, in the past mercury compounds have been
used in the treatment of syphilis.
Case presentation Mercury intoxication was found in a 67 year-old Italian man affected
by neurological symptoms of apparently unknown origin. The patient developed syphilis
forty years ago and then underwent therapy with mercurials to treat his chronic bacterial
infection. We treated the patient with disodium edetate chelation therapy.
Six months after the beginning of the therapy, the patient's neurological symptoms
began to decrease, and were completely cured after two years of therapy.
Conclusion This case supports the use of chelation therapy with disodium edetate to
remove damages caused by mercury intoxication.
