Immunological and Hematological Complications of Sulfur Mustard Poisoning

Abstract

Sulfur mustard (SM) is an incapacitating chem. warfare agent, which has been widely employed in particular regions. The short and long term biol. effects of SM have been clin. and basically studied. Sulfur mustard has been demonstrated to induce a broad continuum of pathol. effects in affected individuals. In addn. to skin, lung, eyes and gastrointestinal manifestations, SM has been shown to induce hematol. and immunol. complications. The acute and chronic immune-hematol. outcomes of individuals exposed to SM are reviewed here. It seems that the dysfunctions of the immune system in these patients may contribute to the increased incidence of a myriad of diseases that have been documented in SM exposed veterans, including cancers. As the toxic effects of SM are progressive and the clin. outcome of veterans can worsen over time, developing addnl. therapeutic strategies is needed. Some of these strategies might be based on immunopotentiating interventions. [on SciFinder(R)]