Dermatologic Aspects of Sulfur Mustard Exposure

Abstract

The skin is one of the important affected target organs by sulfur mustard (SM) as a chem. weapon, besides the eyes and lungs. Skin exposure with sulfur mustard results in the onset of a multiple series of events including a full set of dermal responses for normal wound healing and their mutual influence on each other, eventually leading to skin toxicity. In this process, various mediators that have a regulating role in inflammation, apoptosis, immune responses and some signaling pathways are involved. In this chapter we try to describe the current knowledge on the potential mechanisms which mediate the SM actions on skin, the clin. manifestations in the acute phase of exposure and years later (delayed or chronic ones), histopathol. of SM-exposed skin and the potential therapeutic countermeasures. [on SciFinder(R)]