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Updated: Jul 4, 2026

A Study of the Complexation of Mercury(II) with Dicysteinyl Tetrapeptides by Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry
Published on: January 8, 2016
Intravenous injection of metallic mercury: case report and course of mercury during chelation therapy with DMPS
Birgit Vallant1, Josef Deutsch, Michael Muntean
1Karl-Franzens University Graz, Institute of Chemistry-Analytical Chemistry, Graz, Austria.
Introduction:
Although several cases of i.v. injection of metallic mercury have been reported, it still remains an uncommon event.
Case Report:
A 34-year-old male came to hospital because complaining of pleuritic chest pain. X-ray showed radio dense punctate lesions in both lung fields, as well as around both elbows. Mercury concentration in blood (140 microg/L) and urine (320 microg/L) from the patient were significantly elevated, compared with the reference concentrations of < or = 2.0 mug/L mercury in blood and urine. The course of renal elimination of mercury and the mercury concentration in whole blood during 5 months of chelation therapy with sodium 2,3-dimercapto-1-propanesulfonate (Dimaval) were monitored. Furthermore, the time-course of mercury in scalp hair from the patient was determined.
Conclusion:
We report a case of probable consecutive i.v. administration of metallic mercury.
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