Skip to content
2000
Volume 32, Issue 19
  • ISSN: 0929-8673
  • E-ISSN: 1875-533X

Abstract

Argyria is the chronic accumulation of silver in biological tissues such as skin, liver, kidneys, lungs, peripheral nerves, and brain. The presence of an actual pathophysiological and clinical correlate related to silver encephalic and peripheral nerve deposition is still much debated. In this paper, we reviewed and described case reports regarding argyria associated with neuropsychiatric symptoms in order to explain the underlying mechanism of the disease. We conducted a narrative review by searching for case reports that described subjects with chronic silver accumulation and who had associated neurological or psychiatric symptoms. Moreover, we report a case of a 50-year-old man admitted to our hospital with a diagnosis of major depression who presented with worsening psychiatric symptoms after abuse of silver-containing nasal spray. We found 15 cases of patients with argyria and neuropsychiatric manifestations such as epilepsy, neurodegenerative syndromes, multiple sclerosis, peripheral neuropathy, and psychiatric disorders. The knowledge of possible pathogenetic mechanisms and recognition of clinical features of argyria can help clinicians prevent brain deposition and its complications.

© 2025 Bentham Science Publishers
Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/cmc/10.2174/0109298673313180240625070037
2024-07-09
2025-10-11

  • From This Site

    /content/journals/cmc/10.2174/0109298673313180240625070037
    dcterms_title,dcterms_subject,pub_keyword
    -contentType:Contributor -contentType:Concept -contentType:Institution
    10
    5
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

References

  1. LansdownA.B.G. A pharmacological and toxicological profile of silver as an antimicrobial agent in medical devices.Adv. Pharmacol. Sci.2010201011610.1155/2010/91068621188244
     [Google Scholar]
  2. WanA.T. ConyersR.A. CoombsC.J. MastertonJ.P. Determination of silver in blood, urine, and tissues of volunteers and burn patients.Clin. Chem.199137101683168710.1093/clinchem/37.10.16831914165
     [Google Scholar]
  3. MediciS. PeanaM. NurchiV.M. ZorodduM.A. Medical uses of silver: History, myths, and scientific evidence.J. Med. Chem.201962135923594310.1021/acs.jmedchem.8b0143930735392
     [Google Scholar]
  4. BleehenS.S. GouldD.J. HarringtonC. DurrantT.E. SlaterD.N. UnderwoodJ.C.E. Occupational argyria; light and electron microscopic studies and X-ray microanalysis.Br. J. Dermatol.19811041192610.1111/j.1365‑2133.1981.tb01706.x7459266
     [Google Scholar]
  5. LansdownA.B.G. WilliamsA. ChandlerS. BenfieldS. Silver absorption and antibacterial efficacy of silver dressings.J. Wound Care200514415516010.12968/jowc.2005.14.4.2676215835225
     [Google Scholar]
  6. HumphreysS.D. RoutledgeP.A. The toxicology of silver nitrate.Adverse Drug React. Toxicol. Rev.1998172-31151439838969
     [Google Scholar]
  7. PariserR.J. Generalized argyria.Arch. Dermatol.1978114337337710.1001/archderm.1978.01640150009003629570
     [Google Scholar]
  8. LansdownA.B.G. Critical observations on the neurotoxicity of silver.Crit. Rev. Toxicol.200737323725010.1080/1040844060117766517453933
     [Google Scholar]
  9. RungbyJ. DanscherG. Neuronal accumulation of silver in brains of progeny from argyric rats.Acta Neuropathol.1983613-425826210.1007/BF006919956650140
     [Google Scholar]
  10. RungbyJ. DanscherG. Localization of exogenous silver in brain and spinal cord of silver exposed rats.Acta Neuropathol.1983601-2929810.1007/BF006853526880627
     [Google Scholar]
  11. LandasS. FischerJ. WilkinL.D. MitchellL.D. JohnsonA.K. TurnerJ.W. TheriacM. MooreK.C. Demonstration of regional blood-brain barrier permeability in human brain.Neurosci. Lett.198557325125610.1016/0304‑3940(85)90500‑24034094
     [Google Scholar]
  12. RungbyJ. SlomiankaL. DanscherG. Holst AndersenA. WestM.J. A quantitative evaluation of the neurotoxic effect of silver on the volumes of the components of the developing rat hippocampus.Toxicology198743326126810.1016/0300‑483X(87)90085‑03824394
     [Google Scholar]
  13. Shams VahdatiS. AlaA. RahmanpourD. Sadeghi-HokmabadiE. TahmasbiF. Neurological manifestations of COVID-19 infection: An umbrella review.Egypt. J. Neurol. Psychiat. Neurosurg.202157111310.1186/s41983‑021‑00366‑534483649
     [Google Scholar]
  14. GettlerA.O. RhoadsC.P. WeissS. A contribution to the pathology of generalized argyria with a discussion of the fate of silver in the human body.Am. J. Pathol.192736631652
     [Google Scholar]
  15. MirsattariS.M. HammondR.R. SharpeM.D. LeungF.Y. YoungG.B. Myoclonic status epilepticus following repeated oral ingestion of colloidal silver.Neurology20046281408141010.1212/01.WNL.0000120671.73335.EC15111684
     [Google Scholar]
  16. IwasakiS. YoshimuraA. IdeuraT. KoshikawaS. SudoM. Elimination study of silver in a hemodialyzed burn patient treated with silver sulfadiazine cream.Am. J. Kidney Dis.199730228729010.1016/S0272‑6386(97)90067‑69261044
     [Google Scholar]
  17. OhboY. FukuzakoH. TakeuchiK. TakigawaM. Argyria and convulsive seizures caused by ingestion of silver in a patient with schizophrenia.Psychiatry Clin. Neurosci.1996502899010.1111/j.1440‑1819.1996.tb01669.x8783381
     [Google Scholar]
  18. RosenblaitM.J. CymetT.C. Argyria: Report of a case associated with abnormal electroencephalographic and brain scan findings.J. Am. Osteopath. Assoc.19878779710410.1515/jom‑1987‑8707203112046
     [Google Scholar]
  19. StepienK.M. MorrisR. BrownS. TaylorA. MorganL. Unintentional silver intoxication following self-medication: an unusual case of corticobasal degeneration.Ann. Clin. Biochem.200946652052210.1258/acb.2009.00908219729504
     [Google Scholar]
  20. LawC. LeungS. LoongF. LingT. WongK. LauN.K. TsuiS. LaiC. LamC. Serum ceruloplasmin monitoring in a case of silver intoxication due to intravenous silver infusion.Clin. Toxicol.202260225525810.1080/15563650.2021.191969234047646
     [Google Scholar]
  21. SeitzI.P. KowarikM.C. Sartor-PfeifferJ. ZiemannU. WilhelmH. Bartz-SchmidtK.U. Occurrence of primary progressive multiple sclerosis in a patient with argyria: Causality or coincidence?Mult. Scler. Relat. Disord.20204610246510.1016/j.msard.2020.10246532890815
     [Google Scholar]
  22. VikH. AndersenK.J. JulshamnK. TodnemK. Neuropathy caused by silver absorption from arthroplasty cement.Lancet1985325843387210.1016/S0140‑6736(85)92230‑52858727
     [Google Scholar]
  23. Rowland PayneC.M.E. BladinC. ColchesterA.F. BlandJ. LapworthR. LaneD. Argyria from excessive use of topical silver sulphadiazine.Lancet1992340881112610.1016/0140‑6736(92)90458‑F1352005
     [Google Scholar]
  24. LansdownA.B.G. MirastschijskiU. StubbsN. ScanlonE. ÅgrenM.S. Zinc in wound healing: Theoretical, experimental, and clinical aspects.Wound Repair Regen.200715121610.1111/j.1524‑475X.2006.00179.x17244314
     [Google Scholar]
  25. CooperR. CrowH.J. Toxic effects of intra-cerebral electrodes.Med. Biol. Eng.19664657558110.1007/BF024748275298850
     [Google Scholar]
  26. DietlH.W. AnzilA.P. MehraeinP. Brain involvement in generalized argyria.Clin. Neuropathol.19843132366705320
     [Google Scholar]
  27. RosenmanK.D. MossA. KonS. Argyria: clinical implications of exposure to silver nitrate and silver oxide.J. Occup. Med.1979216430435469606
     [Google Scholar]
  28. SkalskaJ. Dąbrowska-BoutaB. Frontczak-BaniewiczM. SulkowskiG. StrużyńskaL. A low dose of nanoparticulate silver induces mitochondrial dysfunction and autophagy in adult rat brain.Neurotox. Res.202038365066410.1007/s12640‑020‑00239‑432588355
     [Google Scholar]
  29. DanM. XuL. ShaoA. ChengX. ZhangC. YokelR. TakemuraT. HanagataN. NiwaM. WatanabeD. Silver nanoparticles induce tight junction disruption and astrocyte neurotoxicity in a rat blood–brain barrier primary triple coculture model.Int. J. Nanomedicine2015106105611810.2147/IJN.S8526526491287
     [Google Scholar]
  30. HaaseA. RottS. MantionA. GrafP. PlendlJ. ThünemannA.F. MeierW.P. TaubertA. LuchA. ReiserG. Effects of silver nanoparticles on primary mixed neural cell cultures: uptake, oxidative stress and acute calcium responses.Toxicol. Sci.2012126245746810.1093/toxsci/kfs00322240980
     [Google Scholar]
  31. ParangZ. MoghadamniaD. Effects of silver nanoparticles on the functional tests of liver and its histological changes in adult male rats.Nanomedicine Res J.20183314615310.22034/nmrj.2018.03.005
     [Google Scholar]
  32. TricklerW.J. LantzS.M. MurdockR.C. SchrandA.M. RobinsonB.L. NewportG.D. SchlagerJ.J. OldenburgS.J. PauleM.G. SlikkerW.Jr HussainS.M. AliS.F. Silver nanoparticle induced blood-brain barrier inflammation and increased permeability in primary rat brain microvessel endothelial cells.Toxicol. Sci.2010118116017010.1093/toxsci/kfq24420713472
     [Google Scholar]
  33. KhanA.M. KorzeniowskaB. GorshkovV. TahirM. SchrøderH. SkytteL. RasmussenK.L. KhandigeS. Møller-JensenJ. KjeldsenF. Silver nanoparticle-induced expression of proteins related to oxidative stress and neurodegeneration in an in vitro human blood-brain barrier model.Nanotoxicology201913222123910.1080/17435390.2018.154072830623748
     [Google Scholar]
  34. HadrupN. SharmaA.K. JacobsenN.R. LoeschnerK. Distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity of implanted silver: A review.Drug Chem. Toxicol.20224552388239710.1080/01480545.2021.1950167
     [Google Scholar]
  35. SkvortsovA.N. Il’ichevaE.Iu. ZatulovskiĭE.A. Savel’evA.N. TsymbalenkoN.B. ShavlovskiĭM.M. PuchkovaL.V. Characteristics of rat ceruloplasmin from the serum of animals, which received salts of silver with food.Tsitologiia2010521196096621268857
     [Google Scholar]
  36. LeeJ. PeñaM.M.O. NoseY. ThieleD.J. Biochemical characterization of the human copper transporter Ctr1.J. Biol. Chem.200227764380438710.1074/jbc.M10472820011734551
     [Google Scholar]
  37. SrivastavaM. SinghS. SelfW.T. Exposure to silver nanoparticles inhibits selenoprotein synthesis and the activity of thioredoxin reductase.Environ. Health Perspect.20121201566110.1289/ehp.110392821965219
     [Google Scholar]
  38. RamaekersV. CalommeM. Vanden BergheD. MakropoulosW. Selenium deficiency triggering intractable seizures.Neuropediatrics199425421722310.1055/s‑2008‑10730257824095
     [Google Scholar]
  39. GrayS.L. HanlonJ.T. LandermanL.R. ArtzM. SchmaderK.E. FillenbaumG.G. Is antioxidant use protective of cognitive function in the community-dwelling elderly?Am. J. Geriatr. Pharmacother.20031131010.1016/S1543‑5946(03)80011‑915555461
     [Google Scholar]
  40. RungbyJ. Exogenous silver in dorsal root ganglia, peripheral nerve, enteric ganglia, and adrenal medulla.Acta Neuropathol.1986691-2455310.1007/BF006870383962597
     [Google Scholar]
  41. WislookiG.B. LeducE.H. Vital staining of the hematoencephalic barrier by silver nitrate and trypan blue, and cytological comparisons of the neurohypophysis, pineal body, area postrema, intercolumnar tubercle and supraoptic crest.J. Comp. Neurol.195296337141310.1002/cne.90096030214946259
     [Google Scholar]
  42. van BreemenV.L. ClementeC.D. Silver deposition in the central nervous system and the hematoencephalic barrier studied with the electron microscope.J. Cell Biol.19551216116610.1083/jcb.1.2.16114381438
     [Google Scholar]
  43. FurchnerJ.E. RichmondC.R. DrakeG.A. Comparative metabolism of radionuclides in mammals-IV. Retention of silver-110 m in the mouse, rat, monkey, and dog.Health Phys.196815650551410.1097/00004032‑196812000‑000054972147
     [Google Scholar]
  44. GoebelH.H. MullerJ. Ultrastructural observations on silver deposition in the choroid plexus of a patient with argyria.Acta Neuropathol.197326324725110.1007/BF006844344769154
     [Google Scholar]
  45. WesthofenM. SchäferH. Generalized argyrosis in man: Neurotological, ultrastructural and X-ray microanalytical findings.Arch. Otorhinolaryngol.1986243426026410.1007/BF004644423778302
     [Google Scholar]
  46. BeyerJ.L. YoungR. KuchibhatlaM. KrishnanK.R.R. Hyperintense MRI lesions in bipolar disorder: A meta-analysis and review.Int. Rev. Psychiatry200921439440910.1080/0954026090296219820374153
     [Google Scholar]
  47. ZhaoN.O. TopolskiN. TusconiM. SalardaE.M. BusbyC.W. LimaC.N.N.C. PillaiA. QuevedoJ. BarichelloT. FriesG.R. Blood-brain barrier dysfunction in bipolar disorder: Molecular mechanisms and clinical implications.Brain, Behavior, & Immunity - Health20222110044110.1016/j.bbih.2022.10044135308081
     [Google Scholar]
  48. MaglioneM. MiottoK. IguchiM. JungvigL. MortonS.C. ShekelleP.G. Psychiatric effects of ephedra use: an analysis of Food and Drug Administration reports of adverse events.Am. J. Psychiatry2005162118919110.1176/appi.ajp.162.1.18915625222
     [Google Scholar]
  49. GentileDA SkonerDP. Pediatric Allergy: Principles and Practice.Elsevier200370577
     [Google Scholar]
/content/journals/cmc/10.2174/0109298673313180240625070037
Loading
Argyria and Neuropsychiatric Disorders: When not only the Matter is Gray. A Literature Review and a Case Report
Curr. Med. Chem. 32, 3748 (2025); https://doi.org/10.2174/0109298673313180240625070037
/content/journals/cmc/10.2174/0109298673313180240625070037
/content/journals/cmc/10.2174/0109298673313180240625070037
Loading

Data & Media loading...


  • Article Type:     Review Article
Keyword(s): adult patient; Argyria; brain; neuropsychiatric disorders; silver; toxicology

Most Cited Most Cited RSS feed

This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was a Success
Invalid data
An Error Occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error
Please enter a valid_number test