Visual impairment induced by prosthetic cobaltism

Abstract

The case of a 68-year-old patient with visual loss secondary to prosthetic cobaltism is reported. The degeneration of the metallic hip prosthesis can produce a systemic absorption of cobalt with cardiac, neurological, endocrine, auditory, and visual manifestations. The diagnostic suspicion is confirmed by serum cobalt measurements. Treatment with early surgery and chelating agents can lead to improvement of the visual, and the other disorders.

Keywords: 2,3-Dimercapto-1-propanesulfonic acid (DMPS); Cobalt; Cobaltismo protésico; Cobalto; Dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA); Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA); Hip replacement; Prosthetic cobaltism; Prótesis de cadera; Pérdida visual; Toxicidad; Toxicity; Visual loss; Ácido dimercaptosuccínico (DMSA); Ácido etilendiaminotetraacético (EDTA); Ácido2,3-Dimercapto-1-propanesulfónico (DMPS).