[Argyria--an almost-forgotten dyschromia].

Abstract

A 79-year-old woman presented with a long history of grey-blue discoloration of the light-exposed areas. Her face, forearms, and the backs of both hands were affected. The proximal parts of her fingernails were impressively discolored, but her toenails were not affected. The patient reported that she had received oral therapy with the silver-containing drug Gastrarctin in 1959. The diagnosis of argyria was confirmed by documenting high tissue levels of silver in light-exposed skin. Argyria has become uncommon as medications containing silver are no longer employed and occupational protection for those with exposure to silver salts has become more refined.

• Authors: Volker Stadie, Wolfgang Christian Marsch
• Journal: Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft = Journal of the German Society of Dermatology : JDDG (J Dtsch Dermatol Ges) Vol. 2 Issue 2 Pg. 119-22 (Feb 2004) ISSN: 1610-0379 [Print] Germany
• Vernacular Title: Die Argyrose--eine heute fast vergessene Dyschromie.
• PMID: 16279247 (Publication Type: Case Reports, English Abstract, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Gastrarctin
• Silver Compounds
• Silver Nitrate

Topics

• Aged
• Argyria (diagnosis, etiology)
• Biopsy
• Drug Eruptions (diagnosis, etiology)
• Female
• Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage (drug therapy)
• Humans
• Photosensitivity Disorders (diagnosis, etiology)
• Silver Compounds (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Silver Nitrate (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Skin (pathology)