Haemolytic anaemia and hepatocitolysis associated with hypermagnesaemia by repeated exposures to copper–calcium fungicides

Abstract

For the medical practice, our manuscript acts as a signal, despite only presenting three cases which feature the association between hepatocytolysis, haemolysis and hypermagnesaemia. This clinical–biologic triad was highlighted with the workers who through the nature of their profession were exposing themselves periodically to vapours which contained copper sulphate neutralised with calcium hydroxide, a fungicide used for fruit trees. We are exclusively assessing the haematological perturbation. In this aetiological context, the generating mechanism for haemolysis is very probable biochemical, where hypercupraemia interferes with cellular antioxidant defence mechanisms. Hypothetically, the role of the redox homeostasis disorder in the intravascular destruction of erythrocytes is sustained, and particularly the coexistence of cell cytolysis in the medullary erythroid compartment, which can be assimilated with a possible ineffective erythropoiesis.

Keywords:

• Copper–calcium fungicide
• hypercupraemia
• oxidative stress
• haemolysis
• ineffective erythropoiesis
• hypermagnesaemia
• hepatocytic cytolysis

Disclosure statement

The authors report no declarations of interest.