Persistent Palmar Plaques—Another Possible Cutaneous Sign of Mercury Poisoning

Abstract

Mercury poisoning is becoming a health concern due to the extensive pollution of water and fish and the increasing consumption of fish in the human diet. Mercury is extremely toxic to the body, especially the central nervous system, but diagnosis is difficult due to the lack of specific signs. We report four patients with persistent palmar plaques that correlated with blood mercury levels and cleared upon the elimination of mercury from the body.