eMedicine Specialties > Dermatology > Diseases of Pigmentation

Argyria: Follow-up

Author: Kamila K Padlewska, MD, PhD, Professor, Warsaw Academy of Cosmetics and Health Care; Chief Executive, Cosmetic-Medical Cooperative, Poland
Coauthor(s): Robert A Schwartz, MD, MPH, Professor and Head, Dermatology, Professor of Pathology, Pediatrics, Medicine, and Preventive Medicine and Community Health, UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Mar 13, 2009

Follow-up

Complications

The systemic toxic effects of silver may include the following:

  • Gastrointestinal catarrh
  • Tissue wasting
  • Uremia
  • Albuminuria
  • Fatty degeneration of the liver, kidney, and heart
  • Hemorrhage
  • Idiopathic thrombocytopenia
  • Fluidity of the blood
  • Chronic bronchitis
  • Loss of coordination
  • Decreased night vision
  • Gustatory disturbance
  • Vestibular impairment
  • Seizure of the grand mal type
  • Death by paralysis of the respiratory system

Current thought holds that the substantial amounts of silver in argyria usually result in no serious effects on human health. However, a few cases have notable clinical symptoms and signs. This lack of significant systemic silver toxicity in argyria may be due to the interaction of selenium and sulfur with silver in vivo.

Prognosis

A permanent and irreversible metallic tinge occurs in the skin of patients with argyria.

 
Acknowledgments

The authors and editors of eMedicine gratefully acknowledge the contributions of previous Chief Editor, William D. James, MD, to the development and writing of this article.



More on Argyria

Overview: Argyria
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Argyria
Treatment & Medication: Argyria
Follow-up: Argyria
References

References

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  17. Rhee DY, Chang SE, Lee MW, Choi JH, Moon KC, Koh JK. Treatment of argyria after colloidal silver ingestion using Q-switched 1,064-nm Nd:YAG laser. Dermatol Surg. Oct 2008;34(10):1427-30. [Medline].

Further Reading

Keywords

argyria, universal argyria, localized argyria, ingestion of silver salts, contact with silver salts, staining of skin, silver staining

Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Kamila K Padlewska, MD, PhD, Professor, Warsaw Academy of Cosmetics and Health Care; Chief Executive, Cosmetic-Medical Cooperative, Poland
Kamila K Padlewska, MD, PhD is a member of the following medical societies: Academy of Medical Royal Colleges
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Robert A Schwartz, MD, MPH, Professor and Head, Dermatology, Professor of Pathology, Pediatrics, Medicine, and Preventive Medicine and Community Health, UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School
Robert A Schwartz, MD, MPH is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American College of Physicians, and Sigma Xi
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Smeena Khan, MD, Private Practice, Adult and Pediatric Dermatology Associates
Smeena Khan, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha and American Academy of Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Richard P Vinson, MD, Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Dermatology, Texas Tech University School of Medicine; Consulting Staff, Mountain View Dermatology, PA
Richard P Vinson, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, Association of Military Dermatologists, Texas Dermatological Society, and Texas Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Managing Editor

Jeffrey J Miller, MD, Associate Professor of Dermatology, Penn State University College of Medicine; Staff Dermatologist, Penn State Milton S Hershey Medical Center
Jeffrey J Miller, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, Association of Professors of Dermatology, North American Hair Research Society, and Society for Investigative Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Joel M Gelfand, MD, MSCE, Medical Director, Clinical Studies Unit, Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, Associate Scholar, Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Pennsylvania
Joel M Gelfand, MD, MSCE is a member of the following medical societies: Society for Investigative Dermatology
Disclosure: AMGEN Consulting fee Consulting; AMGEN Grant/research funds None; Genentech Consulting fee Consulting; Centocor Consulting fee Consulting; Centocor Grant/research funds None; Covance Consulting fee Consulting; Shire  Consulting

Chief Editor

Dirk M Elston, MD, Director, Department of Dermatology, Geisinger Medical Center
Dirk M Elston, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

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