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Acrodynia is a rare disorder caused by chronic mercury poisoning or idiosyncrasy with mercury. The Greek term acrodynia means 'painful extremities.' This activity outlines the role of the interprofessional team in evaluating and managing acrodynia. Objectives: Identify the etiology of acrodynia. Apply the presentation of acrodynia. Determine the typical presentation and differential diagnosis of a patient with acrodynia. Communicate the diagnosis and management of a case of acrodynia. Access free multiple choice questions on this topic.

Acrodynia is a manifestation of chronic mercury poisoning or idiosyncrasy with mercury. This symptom complex includes dermatological and systemic manifestations of exposure to various forms of mercury.[1] It is a Greek term that means 'painful extremities.' In literature, it is addressed by other names like erythema arthricum epidemica, erythredema polyneuropathy, hydrargyria, and Feer syndrome, but 'pink's disease' is the most common alternate name.[2] Acrodynia is a rare disease, but sporadic cases are often reported.

Acrodynia is related more often to the elemental form of mercury (quicksilver) inorganic salts than the organic forms.[3] The elemental form is either liquid or vapor and is widely used in thermometers, blood cuffs, batteries, dental amalgams, fluorescent light bulbs, etc. The inhalational toxicity of quicksilver is more severe than that of oral toxicity. The organic forms of mercury can exist as short-chain, alkyl-mercury compounds (methylmercury and ethylmercury) or long-chain, aryl-mercury compounds (methoxyethyl mercury and phenylmercury). In particular, the toxicity of organic forms is related to consuming contaminated seafood.

There is no exact data regarding the present prevalence of acrodynia. The disease is mostly seen in infants and young children. Newborn babies and adults are less vulnerable. The condition was prevalent in Europe, America, and Australia in the first half of the twentieth century.[4] It was present in every 500 children exposed to mercury in dental amalgams.[5] The incidences were more common in infants and children under 2 years and highest among the age group of months.[6] The earlier research resulted in the withdrawal of mercury-containing tooth powders from the market and decreased morbidity and mortality. Between 1939 and 1948, the official death record from acrodynia was 585 in England, which dropped to 57 in 1957 and 7 in 1955.[7] Only rare cases of acrodynia with varied presentations are reported in the literature, most of which are related to accidental exposure to mercury in non-occupational settings. Mercury-containing preservatives (thiomersal), calomel-containing diaper powders, plant fungicides, anthelmintics, mercury ointments, certain bactericidal agents, alternate medicine drugs, folk medicines, and interior latex paints pose a hazard of causing mercury toxicity in domestic settings.[8] Certain traditional ayurvedic medicines contain a significant amount of mercury and have caused cases of acrodynia.[9]

Mercury has an affinity for the ubiquitous sulfhydryl groups in the tissues in its various forms by forming covalent bonds. The interaction of mercury with many intracellular moieties results in the dysfunction of enzymes, membrane transportation, and structural proteins. Mercury can produce corrosive actions locally due to its oxidizing and corrosive action. Mercury absorption can manifest in varied forms due to its vast systemic involvement. The immune system's involvement in delayed hypersensitivity has been proposed to cause acrodynia. There can be genetic variation in individuals' idiosyncratic sensitivity due to mercury's toxic effects.[10] The mechanism of acrodynia may also involve adrenocortical hyperfunction, sympathetic vasomotor dysfunction, and catecholamine dysfunction. The inactivation of  catecholamine-0-methyl transferase can explain arterial hypertension associated with mercury, increasing serum and urinary epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine.[11] The neural degeneration associated with mercury poisoning is responsible for the painful extremities, peripheral neuropathy, and associated neuropsychiatric symptoms, as seen in acrodynia.[12]

The initial history can be vague and mimic other conditions. The common presenting signs in an affected child are irritability, peevishness, poor appetite, unexplained drowsiness, weight loss, apathy, painful extremities, and increased sweating. The parents may complain of decreased playfulness owing to muscle atrophy and pain. The initial signs are followed by redness of toes, fingers, and tip of the nose. Photophobia, conjunctivitis, and keratitis are often coexistent.[17] Other important signs include pruritis, pyrexia of unknown origin, drooling of saliva, degeneration of nails and teeth, swollen gums, tremors, alopecia, miliaria, generalized weakness, sleep disturbances, and secondary skin infections.[18] The skin of palms and soles may show vesicular eruption and subsequent desquamation. The palms and feet may be swollen and show dusky discoloration (see Image. Acrodynia on the Bottom of Foot). A morbilliform, scarlatiniform, or rubelliform exanthem can be seen with hemorrhagic puncta. The repetitive scratching of hands may cause lichenification, excoriation, and ulcerating pyoderma. One author describes The cutaneous features as ‘puffy, pink, painful, paresthetic, perspiring, and peeling hands.’[19] A cutaneous biopsy may show non-specific findings of chronic dermatitis and hyperplastic sweat glands.[20]  The blood pressure is raised, and the child often has tachycardia. The atrophy of muscles of the pelvic and pectoral girdle should be assessed. Occasionally, the patient can show a ‘Salaam posture,’ in which he sits with the head between the legs and rubs the hands together.[21] The nerve biopsy can show myelin destruction and perinuclear chromatolysis in anterior horn cells.[22] The involvement of other systems may be evidenced by bronchitis, dyspepsia, and upper respiratory infections.

Before commencing the workout, a thorough clinical history and an evaluation of the possible exposures in the domestic surroundings and the workplace are crucial. The laboratory evaluation should include the demonstration of mercury levels in the blood, urine, and body tissues. The initial exercise should consist of radiological evaluation, toxicological screening of blood and urine, basic metabolic panel, liver function tests, and complete blood profile. Spot urine collections can be used for creatinine estimations, but a 24-hour urine sample should estimate the urine mercury concentrations.[23] Gas and thin-layer chromatography are useful in distinguishing mercury's organic and inorganic salts. A toxicology screening should be done to rule out other heavy metal poisonings. Estimations of the urinary levels of vanillylmandelic acid, homovanillic acid, and 17-ketosteroid should be done in patients with concurrent hypertension and endocrinological involvement.[24] Electroneuromyography, cardiovascular evaluation, and neuropsychological tests should be employed if necessary. While making inferences, it is essential to note that there is no established correlation between the symptomatology of mercury toxicity and its concentrations in body fluids.[25] Literature has mentioned the mercury assay of hair in chronic poisonings, but it is prone to misinterpretations.[26]

Elimination of the source of exposure is the first crucial step in initiating the treatment. The initial therapy should aim to correct the fluid and electrolyte imbalances. All cases of inhalational toxicity of elemental mercury need monitoring of vital organs. Whole-bowel irrigation by polyethylene and gastric decontamination by activated charcoal can be rarely indicated but can be attempted.[27][1] Meso 2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (succimer, DMSA) is an FDA-approved water-soluble analog of BAL (British anti-Lewisite) and forms the mainstay of treatment. WHO recommends succimer therapy to be initiated in children with urine mercury levels of 50 μg/mL or more creatinine, even if the child is asymptomatic.[28] DMSA can be given orally or intravenously. The dose for children is 350 mg/m2 3 times daily for the first 5 days, then 350 mg/m2 twice daily for the next 14 days. Depending on the remission of symptoms, the dose can be repeated after 2 weeks. The child's CBC, renal, and hepatic function should be monitored during treatment.[29] BAL (dimercaprol ) and D-penicillamine have also been used to treat acrodynia. BAL should be avoided when treating mercury toxicity since it may aggravate mercury accumulation in the nervous system. In case of unavailability of succimer, D-penicillamine can be used in the daily dosage of 20 to 30 mg/kg in 4 divided doses. D-penicillamine is not useful for organic mercury toxicity and can cause more severe side effects like nephrotoxicity.[30] Antihypertensive drugs like tolazoline, amlodipine, and labetalol can be used to treat coexistent hypertension. Hemodialysis should be reserved for the refractory cases of renal failure secondary to mercury toxicity. The role of peritoneal dialysis and plasma exchange has also been described.[31] Peripheral pain should be treated with gabapentin and pregabalin. Local application of ointments containing lidocaine and ketamine can be prescribed. Skin conditions like secondary infections and pyoderma can warrant antibiotic use due to cultural sensitivity. The diet must be encouraged in patients with anorexia. An environmental survey is essential for patient management in mercury poisoning. It should aim towards decontaminating the domestic and industrial surroundings in a scientifically prescribed manner.

Diagnosis of acrodynia can be difficult for clinicians due to the nonspecific systematic manifestations of mercury toxicity and the rarity of the disease in the present times. The dermatological findings can be confused with other skin conditions like postviral acral desquamation, Kawasaki disease, juvenile plantar dermatosis, erythromelalgia, etc.[2][32] Contact exposure to mercury can result in other cutaneous conditions like acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis and Symmetric flexural exanthema.[18][19] The involvement of other systems like the nervous, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, and respiratory systems can complicate the diagnosis of acrodynia. The common systemic diseases confused with the diagnosis of acrodynia are pheochromocytoma, idiopathic hypertension in the pediatric age group, and Kawasaki disease.[33][34][35][36] Simultaneously, toxicities of other heavy metals like gold, arsenic, copper, and thallium can mimic the clinical presentation of acrodynia. In the pediatric population, acrodynia can be misdiagnosed as brucellosis, hyperthyroidism, Guillain Barré syndrome, sepsis, etc.[37]  The clinical presentation of pink’s disease has been confused with viral infections and nutritional deficiencies.[38]

The prognosis depends on age, idiosyncrasy, dose, and duration of exposure. The prognosis can be variable but is often favorable. In most cases, the symptoms are alleviated with chelation therapy. Elderly children seem to have a better recovery. In earlier times, the fatality of deaths was as high as 10 to 33%. Infertility (Young disease), bronchiectasis, mental retardation, and permanent neurological deficits have been reported in the survivors. A high prevalence of autism spectrum disorders among descendants of survivors of pink’s disease is also documented.[5]

Unfortunately, despite treatment, some patients are disabled and have a poor quality of life. The organic damage suffered from mercury is often irreversible, and patients often have marked changes in intelligence and cognition. Patients with a short exposure to mercury can recover fully if mercury exposure is discontinued.

The diagnosis and management of acrodynia involve a high suspicion based on exposure and a multidisciplinary approach. Although various jurisdictions have imposed policies to curb mercury exposure, practitioners can encounter cases of acrodynia. There is a growing trend of intake of herbal and ayurvedic medicines, which may contain an abnormally high amount of mercury and its variants. Diagnosing acrodynia can be challenging, given various conditions mimicking the clinical presentation. The health care professional should emphasize an environmental survey, regular follow-up, and proper choice of chelating agents for better treatment outputs.