Hong Kong doctors were faced with a unique case: An 84-year-old man who presented with urinary problems surprised doctors with the unusual silver-gray hue of his skin, eyes and nails. Scientists determined that the cause was argyria, a rare condition caused by the buildup of silver in body tissues. However, the source of the metal that entered the man’s body still remains a mystery. The study was published in the journal New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM).
Argyria is a rare condition caused by silver accumulation in the body. It may cause the skin to appear blue-grey. Historically, argyria has been observed in workers closely associated with silver, such as jewelers and miners. Sometimes it can also be caused by the use of silver-containing drugs that are claimed to have health benefits, although there is no scientific evidence of their effectiveness.
Despite its unusual appearance, argyria rarely poses a serious health threat. However, silver may reduce the effectiveness of some antibiotics and medications. Unfortunately, it is impossible to get rid of gray skin tone since there is no method to remove the silver accumulated in the body.
An 84-year-old patient in Hong Kong was admitted to the hospital complaining of urinary problems. But doctors were shocked by something else: the man’s skin, eyes, and nails took on an unusual greyish-silver hue. As it turned out, this color appeared about five years ago, and a blood test revealed the cause: silver content 40 times higher than normal. The metal accumulates in body tissues, forming small granules in the membranes of sweat glands, blood vessels and skin fibers.
The patient did not take medicine with silver and did not encounter metal in his job – he was a waiter. Additionally, their neighbors did not experience similar changes, eliminating domestic exposure. His only medication was finasteride, a non-silver drug used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia.
This case remains a mystery to doctors, but doctors will continue to monitor the patient’s condition.
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Source: Gazeta
Barbara Dickson is a seasoned writer for “Social Bites”. She keeps readers informed on the latest news and trends, providing in-depth coverage and analysis on a variety of topics.