Objective: To describe the clinical and paraclinical characteristics of patients over 18 years of age who consulted the Neurology service of the University Hospital with diagnosis of mercury poisoning and parkinsonism in the period of 2015-2017.

Background: Mercury is a heavy metal and its compounds are recognized as potentially hazardous materials. Industrial growth, and especially fluorescent lamps, has increased the exposure and the risk of mercury poisoning. Through environmental studies and case-control studies, demonstrated that mercury is related to the presence of parkinsonism.

Method: Descriptive observational study of patients diagnosed with mercury poisoning and secondary parkinsonism, in a Neurology clinic of the University Hospital between 2015-2016. Sociodemographic, clinical and laboratory, collected in each patient.

Results: A total of 7 individuals are reported in whom an intoxication is evidenced by mercury secondary to occupational exposure and that after chelation and management of acute symptoms present parkinsonism. Of the individuals studied, 100% were male and belonged to a company that produces fluorescent lamps; the age range was 38-50 years. In these patients, the range of mercury levels at admission was 93-761 μg / l with controls after chelation in the office neurology lower than 20 μg / l in blood; In addition, intoxication by other heavy metals was ruled out in all patients. 100% of the patients consulted for symptoms due to tremor at rest and bradykinesia, in addition to stiffness, with a positive levodopa test and a score on the MDS-UPDRS-III scale of 5-18.

Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that there is a possible association of occupational exposure to mercury (with acute intoxication) and subsequent parkinsonism, however, larger and more methodologically robust studies are required to determine this association. This study is the first in the country to report an empirical association of mercury poisoning and parkinsonism.

References: Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). Evaluating Mercury Exposure: Information for Health Care Providers. 2011. pp. 1–2. 2. Gasca-Alvarez A. Exposición ambiental a mercurio en minas de oro: medición del impacto en la salud en Guainia, Colombia. Rev. Salud Pública (Bogotá); 2000. 3. Osorio García SD, Hernández Flores LJ, Sarmiento R, González Álvarez Y, Perez Castiblanco DM, Barbosa Devia MZ, et al. Prevalencia de mercurio y plomo en población general de Bogotá 2012/2013. Revista de Salud Pública. 2015 Mar 6;16(4):621–8.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/parkinsonism-secondary-to-mercury-poisoning-in-a-colombian-population/