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Subacute Fluorosis
A Consequence of Abuse of an Organofluoride Anesthetic
Abstract
A young woman presented with a novel multisystem disease: painful periostitis, osteosclerosis, hypertension, and renal dysfunction. The similarity of some of this clinical picture to fluoride intoxication led to the discovery of massively elevated fluoride levels in serum, urine, and bone. Although initially an enigma, the source of fluoride was later found to be the illicit use of an anesthetic agent, methoxyflurane. This agent is one of a class of organofluorides that, by virtue of biotransformation, is a known cause of inorganic fluoride exposure. Though the drug is potentially nephrotoxic as generally used, exposure to it is transient and has not previously led to discernible bone disease.
Article and Author Information
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▸From the Divisions of Nephrology and Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina School of Medicine; Chapel Hill, North Carolina
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Grant support: Public Health Service Research Grant #RR-46 from the General Clinical Research Centers branch of the Division of Research Resources. Dr. Hadler is the recipient of an Established Investigatorship from the American Heart Association.
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▸Requests for reprints should be addressed to Nortin Hadler, M.D.; Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, UNC School of Medicine; Chapel Hill, NC 27514.
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- Received March 22, 1978.
- Accepted July 7, 1978.
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