Cobalt-Induced Hyperthyroidism, Cardiomyopathy, Polycythemia, and Hypertricosis in an Infant

A CASE OF A 13-MONTH OLD BABY AFFECTED BY IRON DEFICIENCY ANAEMIA AND TREATED WITH A COMMERCIAL IRON-COBALT DRUG, FERRLECIT, IS DESCRIBED. AT THE TIME OF ADMISSION TO THE HOSPITAL THE BABY SHOWED PREIMITIVE HYPOTHYROIDISM, CARDIOMEGALY AND HYPERTRICOSIS. IN SPITE OF THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE DRUG FOR 12 MONTHS IT STILL SHOWED ANAEMIA. THE INTERRUPTION OF THE DRUG AND AN IRON THERAPY NORMALISED THE HEMATOLOGICAL VALUES AND THE SERUM COBALT AS DETERMINED BY NEUTRON ACTIVATION ANALYSIS (NAA). SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF COBALT WERE ALSO DETERMINED IN HAIR, NAILS AND ANOMALOUS DOWN OF THE BACK WHICH SUGGEST THAT THESE TISSUES COULD BE USED AS PROBABLE INDICATOR OF COBALT EXPOSURE AND MIGHT REPRESENT A WAY OF COBALT DETOXIFICATION. THIS CASE CONFIRMS THAT GREAT CAUTION MUST BE TAKEN WHEN COBALT IS USED AS A THERAPEUTIC AGENT FOR THE TREATMENT OF ANAEMIA.

SABBIONI Enrico;  PIETRA Romano;  BIANCHI C.;  BERTANZA C.;  MISTURA L.; 

1995-03-15

JRC5529

https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC5529,