BACKGROUND: Molybdenum is an essential trace element and a component of xanthine oxidase, which catalyses the formation of urate. The toxicity of molybdenum in humans is considered to be low, but hyperuricaemia and gout-like symptoms have been observed sporadically. METHODS: A case of hyperuricaemia and gouty arthritis in a young man with occupational exposure to molybdenum is described. Improvement during an exposure-free period was followed by a relapse after a reconstruction designed to quantify his molybdenum exposure. CONCLUSION: This case seems to represent the first observation of gout associated with occupational molybdenum exposure, but the association might also be entirely circumstantial.
BACKGROUND:Molybdenum is an essential trace element and a component of xanthine oxidase, which catalyses the formation of urate. The toxicity of molybdenum in humans is considered to be low, but hyperuricaemia and gout-like symptoms have been observed sporadically. METHODS: A case of hyperuricaemia and gouty arthritis in a young man with occupational exposure to molybdenum is described. Improvement during an exposure-free period was followed by a relapse after a reconstruction designed to quantify his molybdenum exposure. CONCLUSION: This case seems to represent the first observation of gout associated with occupational molybdenum exposure, but the association might also be entirely circumstantial.
Authors: Lucia Bernasconi; Benedetta Brolli; Aurelio Negro; Jorge L Zoino; Azzurra Schicchi; Valeria M Petrolini; Davide Lonati; Anna Ronchi; Carlo A Locatelli Journal: Med Lav Date: 2022-04-26 Impact factor: 1.275