[Intravenous injection of thermometer mercury (author's transl)]

The possible complications in two women who had injected themselves intravenously with thermometer mercury with suicidal intent are discussed with reference to the few comparable cases. A manifest pulmonary hypertension due to multiple mercury emboli in the lesser circulation in one patient who developed a dyspnoea on exertion could be excluded by cardiac catheterization. Signs of acute and chronic mercury poisoning could not be demonstrated in our patients, in contrast to some cases reported in the literature. So far, specific therapy has therefore been dispensed with.