Nephrotic Syndrome With Use of Ammoniated Mercury

Abstract

IT IS well known that mercury can affect renal function. Organic mercurials can produce diuresis, and organic or inorganic mercurial compounds taken in therapeutic or excessive dosages may cause tubular necrosis, proteinuria, or the nephrotic syndrome. This syndrome has been associated with mercurial diuretics 1-4 ; mercurous chloride in calomel-containing powders 5,6 ; the mercury salt of fulminic acid 7 ; vapor from paint additives containing mercuric chloride, mercury, and phenol mercury 1 ; the protiodide of mercury 8 ; and vapor in the mercury industry containing mercury, mercurous chloride, mercuric chloride, mercuric oxide, and phenyl mercury acetate. 9 Ammoniated mercury, an inorganic compound whose formula is HgNH 2 CL, has been implicated in the production of proteinuria 10-12 and the nephrotic syndrome 1,13 14 (Table 1). Following is a report of a case of nephrotic syndrome associated with use of ammoniated mercury. Report of a Case A 24-year-old white man, a bank cashier from