RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Mercury poisoning in a bodybuilder
JF Practical Neurology
JO Pract Neurol
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP 241
OP 243
DO 10.1136/pn-2023-003827
VO 24
IS 3
A1 Edwards, Marc
A1 Powell, Rob
YR 2024
UL http://pn.bmj.com/content/24/3/241.abstract
AB A 64-year-old man had progressive unsteadiness over several years, with tingling in his feet. He was a longstanding bodybuilding enthusiast. Clinical assessment and neurophysiology confirmed a cerebellar ataxia and axonal peripheral neuropathy. His serum mercury concentration was significantly raised. We diagnosed chronic mercury toxicity secondary to excessive tuna consumption. We advised him to stop eating tuna and prescribed dimercaptosuccinic acid, after which his serum mercury concentrations subsequently fell. This case report highlights the importance of considering dietary and nutritional causes of neurological disease. We also discuss the mechanisms, diagnosis and treatment of mercury toxicity.All data relevant to the study are included in the article.