Truncal hypesthesia in patients with Minamata disease

Patients with Minamata disease (methylmercury intoxication) usually suffer from the glove and stocking type hypesthesia in the extremities. Recently it is believed that the sensory disturbance of the disease may be a manifestation of the cerebral involvement. The aim of this study was to determine the pain threshold of their extremities and body by algesimeter. The results showed that a majority of the patients had elevated pain thresholds in the body and the extremities, and suggest that the pain impairment is not responsible for the peripheral nerve involvement.