[Acute grey mercury ointment poisoning]

The clinical picture of poisonings with gray mercury ointment in 56 patients after its cutaneous applications is described. The patients developed gastrointestinal disorders, nephro- and hepatopathies, fever, and dermatitis. The concentration of mercury in the blood was as high as 800 micrograms/liter. The principal agent in conservative therapy is unithiol as an antidote. In grave and medium-severe poisonings hemoperfusion is the most effective modality; early administration of this measure helps appreciably alleviate the course of the disease and prevent the complications most hazardous for life (acute renal failure, etc.).