We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Chapter 20: Delayed Complications of Sulfur Mustard Poisoning in Iranian Veterans.
- Authors
Balali-Mood, Mahdi; Balali-Mood, Beeta
- Abstract
Sulfur mustard (SM) is a chemical warfare agent that was widely used during the World War I and in the Iran-Iraq conflict in 1983-1988. It may also be used as a chemical terrorism. SM is an alkylating agent that affects DNA synthesis. Its delayed complications have been considered since the World War One. Delayed complications of SM poisoning in different organs and their severity correlations were studied in Iranian veterans. Haematological and immunological investigations were also performed on a control group of 35 healthy male subjects. Forty male patients (aged 43.8 ± 9.8 years) with confirmed SM poisoning 16-20 years after SM exposure were studied. The most common complications were found in the lungs (95%), peripheral nerves (77.5%), skin (75%), and eyes (65%). WBC, RBC, haematocrit (HCT), IgM, C3, and the percentages of monocytes and CD3+ lymphocytes were significantly (P < 0.042) higher and the percentage of CD16 + 56 (natural killer) cells was significantly (P = 0.006) lower in the patients than in the control group. The severity of respiratory complications revealed a significant correlation with the severity of ocular complications (r = 0.322, P = 0.043), as well as with the haemoglobin (r = 0.369, P = 0.024) and HCT (r = 0.470, P = 0.003). Although late complications of SM poisoning in the skin, eyes, and respiratory system are mainly due to its direct toxic effects, the neuromuscular, haematological and immunological complications are probably the result of systemic toxicity. Cardiovascular complications as myocardial perfusion abnormalities and coronary ectasis have recently been observed in these patients. Further studies on larger groups of veterans and controls with more details particularly on cardiovascular complications are now undertaking.
- Subjects
IRAN; MUSTARD gas; CHEMICAL warfare agents; TOXICITY testing; DISEASE complications; POISONING; CHEMICAL terrorism prevention; FOOD contamination; VETERANS' health
- Publication
Journal of Medical Chemical, Biological & Radiological Defense, 2010, Vol 8, p147
- ISSN
1540-6709
- Publication type
Article