Minamata disease is the name given to a neurological syndrome caused by or-ganic mercury intoxication. Most commonly it results from consumption of methylmercury contaminated seafood and in severe cases is classically mani-fested by concentric constriction of the visual fields, ataxia and sensory dis-turbance in the distal extremities. The radiographic and neuropathological find-ings parallel the clinical picture and typically consist of lesions selectively in-volving the visual cortex, cerebellum and postecentral gyri.
References
[1]
O’Carroll, R.E., Masterton, G., Dougall, N., Ebmeier, K.P. and Goodwin, G.M. (1995) The Neuropsychiatric Sequelae of Mercury Poisoning. The Mad Hatter’s Disease Revisited. British Journal of Psychiatry, 167, 95-98.
https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.167.1.95
[2]
Hunter, D., Bomford, R.R. and Russell, D.S. (1940) Poisoning by Methyl Mercury Compounds. Quarterly Journal of Medicine, 33, 193-213.
[3]
Harada, M. (1995) Minamata Disease: Methylmercury Poisoning in Japan Caused by Environmental Pollution. Critical Reviews in Toxicology, 25, 1-24.
https://doi.org/10.3109/10408449509089885
[4]
Timothy, G.S. (2001) Minamata: Pollution and the Struggle for Democracy in Postwar Japan. Harvard University Asia Center, Cambridge, 385 p.
[5]
Tsuchiya, K. (1969) Epidemic of Mercury Poisoning in the Agano River Area—An Introductory Review. Keio Journal of Medicine, 18, 213-227.
https://doi.org/10.2302/kjm.18.213
[6]
Eto, K. (2000) Minamata Disease. Neuropathology, 20, S14-S19.
https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1440-1789.2000.00295.x
[7]
Bakir, .F, Damluji, S.F., Amin-Zaki, L., Murtadha, M., Khalidi, A., Al-Rawi, N.Y., Tikriti, S., Dhahir, H.I., Clarkson, T.W., Smith, J.C., et al. (1973) Methylmercury Poisoning in Iraq. Science, 181, 230-241.
https://doi.org/10.1126/science.181.4096.230
[8]
Magos, L. (1998) Three Cases of Methylmercury Intoxication Which Eluded Correct Diagnosis. Archives of Toxicology, 72, 701-705.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s002040050563
[9]
Davis, L.E., Kornfeld, M., Mooney, H.S., Fiedler, K.J., Haaland, K.Y., Orrison, W.W., Cernichiari, E. and Clarkson, T.W. (1994) Methylmercury Poisoning: Long-Term Clinical, Radiological, Toxicological, and Pathological Studies of an Affected Family. Annals of Neurology, 35, 680-688.
https://doi.org/10.1002/ana.410350608
[10]
Youzhou, P., Xiuo, J. and Shuhai, W. (1989) The Problem of Methylmercury Poisoning along the Songhua River in China. In: Tsuru, S., Suzuki, T., Shiraki, H., Miyamoto, K., Shimizu, M. and Harada, M., Eds. For Truth and Justice in the Minamata Disease Case, Keisou Syobou, Tokyo, 299-304.
[11]
Harada, M., Fujino, T., Akagi, T. and Nishigaki, S. (1977) Mercury Contamination in Human Hair at Indian Reserves in Canada. The Kumamoto Medical Journal, 30, 57-64.
[12]
Malm, O., Pfeiffer, W.C., Souz, C.M.M. and Reuther, R. (1990) Mercury Pollution Due to Gold Mining in the Madeira River Basin, Brazil. Ambio, 9, 11-15.
[13]
Tokuomi, H. (1960) Clinical Observation and Pathogenesis of Minamata Disease. Journal of Psychiatry & Neuroscience, 62, 1816-1850.
[14]
Kondo, K. (2000) Congenital Minamata Disease: Warnings from Japan’s Experience. Journal of Child Neurology, 157, 458-464.
https://doi.org/10.1177/088307380001500707
[15]
Eto, K., Takizawa, Y., Akagi, H., Haraguchi, K., Asano, S., Takahata, N. and Tokunaga, H. (1999) Differential Diagnosis between Organic and Inorganic Mercury Poisoning in Human Cases—The Pathologic Point of View. Toxicologic Pathology, 27, 664-671. https://doi.org/10.1177/019262339902700608
[16]
Eto, K., Yasutake, A., Kuwana, T., Korogi, Y., Akima, M., Shimozeki, T., Tokunaga, H. and Kaneko, Y. (2001) Methylmercury Poisoning in Common Marmosets—A Study of Selective Vulnerability within the Cerebral Cortex. Toxicologic Pathology, 29, 565-573. https://doi.org/10.1080/019262301317226375
[17]
Eto, K., Yasutake, A., Korogi, Y., Akima, M., Shimozeki, T., Tokunaga, H., Kuwana, T. and Kaneko, Y. (2002) Methylmercury Poisoning in Common Marmosets—MRI Findings and Peripheral Nerve Lesions. Toxicologic Pathology, 30, 723-734.
https://doi.org/10.1080/01926230290166814
[18]
Eto, K., Tokunaga, H., Nagashima, K. and Takeuchi, T. (2002) An Autopsy Case of Minamata Disease (Methylmercury Poisoning)—Pathological Viewpoints of Peripheral Nerves. Toxicologic Pathology, 30, 714-722.
[19]
Matsumoto, H., Koya, G. and Takeuchi, T. (1965) Fetal Minamata Disease. A Neuro-Pathological Study of Two Cases of Intrauterine Intoxication by Methylmercury Compound. Journal of Neuropathology & Experimental Neurology, 24, 563-574.
https://doi.org/10.1097/00005072-196510000-00002
[20]
Saito, H. (2004) Congenital Minamata Disease: A Description of Two Cases in Niigata. SMDJ Seychelles Medical and Dental Journal, 7, 134-137.
[21]
Usuki, F., Yasutake, A., Matsumoto, M., Umehara, F. and Higuchi, I. (1998) The Effect of Methylmercury on Skeletal Muscle in the Rat: A Histopathological Study. Toxicology Letters, 94, 227-232. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-4274(98)00022-8
[22]
Nagashima, K. (1997) A Review of Experimental Methylmercury Toxicity in Rats: Neuropathology and Evidence for Apoptosis. Toxicologic Pathology, 25, 624-631.
https://doi.org/10.1177/019262339702500613
[23]
Castoldi, A.F., Coccini, T. and Manzo, L. (2003) Neurotoxic and Molecular Effects of Methylmercury in Humans. Reviews on Environmental Health, 18, 19-31.
https://doi.org/10.1515/REVEH.2003.18.1.19
[24]
Sanfeliu, C., Sebastia, J., Cristofol, R. and Rodriguez-Farre, E. (2003) Neurotoxicity of Organomercurial Compounds. Neurotoxicity Research, 5, 283-305.
https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03033386
[25]
Itoh, K., Korogi, Y., Tomiguchi, S., Takahashi, M., Okajima, T. and Sato, H. (2001) Cerebellar Blood Flow in Methylmercury Poisoning (Minamata Disease). Neuroradiology, 43, 279-284. https://doi.org/10.1007/s002340000462
[26]
Korogi, Y., Takahashi, M., Shinzato, J. and Okajima, T. (1994) MR Findings in Seven Patients with Organic Mercury Poisoning (Minamata Disease). American Journal of Neuroradiology, 15, 1575-1578.
[27]
Korogi, Y., Takahashi, M., Hirai, T., Ikushima, I., Kitajima, M., Sugahara, T., Shigematsu, Y., Okajima, T. and Mukuno, K. (1997) Representation of the Visual Field in the Striate Cortex: Comparison of MR Findings with Visual Field Deficits in Organic Mercury Poisoning (Minamata Disease). American Journal of Neuroradiology, 18, 1127-1130.
[28]
Korogi, Y., Takahashi, M., Okajima, T. and Eto, K. (1998) MR Findings of Minamata Disease-Organic Mercury Poisoning. Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, 8, 308-316. https://doi.org/10.1002/jmri.1880080210
[29]
Valk, J. and van der Knaap, M.S. (1989) Mercury Intoxication. In: Valk, J. and van der Knaap, M.S., Eds., Magnetic Resonance of Myelin, Myelination, and Myelin Disorders, Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 270-271.
[30]
Miller, K., Ochudlo, S., Opala, G., Smolicha, W. and Siuda, J. (2003) Parkinsonism in Chronic Occupational Metallic Mercury Intoxication. Neurologia i Neurochirurgia Polska, 37, 31-38.
[31]
Abbaslou, P. and Zaman, T. (2006) A Child with Elemental Mercury Poisoning and Unusual Brain MRI Findings. Clinical Toxicology, 44, 85-88.
https://doi.org/10.1080/15563650500394969