Toxic heavy metals and trace elements

What kinds of metals are considered toxic?

arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury

What is British antilewisite?

AKA dimercaprol, is a chelating agent that binds heavy metals and forms stable complexes

What is the antidote for lead, arsenic, and mercury poisoning?

chelation with BAL or EDTA penicillamine

What are the symptoms of arsenic poisoning?

gastroenteritis, mee’s lines in the nails

What are the symptoms of cadmium poisoning?

nasal epithelium deterioration, chronic proteinuria, protein denaturing

What are the symptoms of chromium poisoning?

nasal epithelium deterioration, small cell lung carcinoma

What are the symptoms of lead poisoning?

anemia, porphyria, basophilic stippling in RBCs, GI irritation, weight loss, altered cognition

What are the symptoms of mercury poisoning?

GI irritation, kidney damage, neurological symptoms

What condition occurs when exposed to corroded chromium?

adverse reaction to metal debris (ARMD)

Which type of heavy metal poisoning can generate autoantibodies?

mercury

What are the three types of trace element categories?

1. clear biochemical fx and deficiency

2. Unknown biochemical fx but known deficiency

3. Clear biochemical fx but unknown deficiency

How is copper transported in the body?

with ceruloplasmin

What is Menke’s syndrome? What causes it?

copper deficiency in transport and storage

Cause: defective gene for ceruloplasmin

What is Wilson’s disease? What causes it?

copper overload

cause: defect of gene that allows for copper excretion

What organs are impacted by Wilson’s disease?

brain, liver, cornea

What is the characteristic clinical sign of Wilson’s disease?

K/F ring around the eye, or copper deposit

How are serum copper, tissue copper, and ceruloplasmin concentrations affected by Wilson’s disease?

serum copper inc.

tissue copper inc.

Ceruloplasmin dec.

What are the functions of zinc? What kinds of enzymes does it help?

regulates gene expression via zinc fingers

helps RNA/DNA polymerase, ALP, and ADH

What are clinical symptoms of zinc deficiency?

dermatitis, growth stunt, and poor wound healing

What is acrodermatitis enteropathica?

zinc deficiency caused by a defective transporter gene

What are the symptoms of acrodermatitis enteropathica?

slow growth, lesions, GI disturbances