Zinc poisoning from excessive denture fixative use masquerading as myelopolyneuropathy and hypocupraemia.
Ann Clin Biochem
; 48(Pt 4): 383-5, 2011 Jul.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-21525151
ABSTRACT
A 50-year-old man presented with a four-year history of unsteadiness, with recent falls and tingling in his fingers. Neurological examination found an ataxic gait, with a positive Romberg's sign. There was distal wasting and weakness in all four limbs and impaired co-ordination, with pseudoathetosis in the arms. Initial investigations showed a normochromic, normocytic anaemia, leucopenia, neutropenia and a low vitamin B(12) (172 ng/L). Treatment with intramuscular cobalamin injections showed no clinical improvement. Further investigations showed an undetectable caeruloplasmin (<0.085 g/L), a very low serum copper (1.1 µmol/L) and a markedly raised serum zinc concentration (36.2 µmol/L). On detailed questioning it became apparent that he had ill-fitting dentures requiring excessive use of denture fixative with high zinc content. The patient was switched to a non-zinc containing denture fixative and commenced copper supplementation. Although within three months the bone marrow suppression had resolved, there was no clinical improvement in neurological presentation. Questioning a patient about their denture fixative usage and checking if zinc is an ingredient may be considered during an investigation for myelopolyneuropathy when vitamin B(12) deficiency is not a cause.
Texto completo:
1
Bases de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Intoxicación
/
Zinc
/
Dentaduras
/
Cobre
/
Cementos Dentales
Tipo de estudio:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Etiology_studies
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Ann Clin Biochem
Año:
2011
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Reino Unido