A preliminary laboratory report indicated that the wholeblood
mercury concentration was more than 1,000 µg/L (normal range, 1–8 µg/L; toxic level, >200 µg/L).
Chelation therapy with oral succimer (10 mg/kg orally every 8 hours) was begun on day 168 after exposure.
Whole blood concentrations rose to 4,000 µg/L after one day of chelation, and urinary mercury levels were
234 µg/L (normal range, 1–5 µg/L; toxic level, >50 µg/L). Despite the initial success of chelation therapy,
administration of vitamin E, and a blood exchange transfusion, at 176 days postexposure, the patient
became comatose. Further aggressive general support and chelation therapy failed, life support ws removed
(following the patient’s advance directive), and the patient died 298 days postexposure