Can Colloidal Silver help fight this pandemic?

Argyria associated with colloidal silver supplementation.

• McKenna JK,
• Hull CM,
• Zone JJ.

Department of Dermatology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA.

A 65-year-old male presented for skin examination and was incidentally noted to have discoloration of the fingernails. These findings were completely asymptomatic. The patient had been taking colloidal silver supplementation (Silverzone 140 ppm silver Gifts of Nature, St. George, UT, USA) for 2 years as therapy for diabetes. He first noticed the onset of nail discoloration 1 year ago. His past medical history included type II diabetes and hypertension. His current medications were metformin, glyburide, and benazepril. Physical examination revealed slate-gray discoloration involving the lunulae of the fingernails (Fig. 1). The skin, mucous membranes, and sclerae were unaffected.PMID: 12839605 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Argyria following the use of dietary supplements containing colloidal silver protein.

• Gulbranson SH,
• Hud JA,
• Hansen RC.

Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona 85006, USA.

The onset of argyria following the use of dietary supplements containing colloidal silver protein is presented. The patient was using a silver-containing product for cold and allergy prophylaxis. We review the past and present medicinal roles of silver and include a differential diagnosis for argyria. The hyperpigmentation of argyria is usually permanent, and it follows a sun-exposed distribution. This case report highlights the potential for toxicity following the use of dietary supplements and demonstrates the importance of physician inquiry regarding alternative medicines. Finally, we examine the limited role of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in regulating alternative medicines marketed as dietary supplements.

Argyria in the prolonged use of adsorgan

• Eturska M,
• Obreshkova E.

One case of agryria is reported that developed after a long-term administration of adsorgan in a patient with dyspeptic manifestations after cholecystectomy. The developed skin syndrome -- ashen-grey discolorization of the skin of the face and bare parts of the hands and the neurological symptoms -- right monoparesis and vestibular-disturbances with clinical manifestations of chronic cholangiohepatitis, pancreatitis and gastroduodentitis -- provided considerable diagnostic difficulties. The problem of argyria is discussed as a state of intoxication in chronic use of silver-containing medicaments. The necessity of differentiating argyria by the internists is stressed upon in order to avoid it as a complication in the administration of drugs-containing silver, adsorgan resp., being applied in the physician's practice.PMID: 462932 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Argyria secondary to ingestion of homemade silver solution.

• Brandt D,
• Park B,
• Hoang M,
• Jacobe HT.

Department of Dermatology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.

Argyria is a rare skin disease caused by cutaneous deposition of silver granules in the skin as a result of exposure to silver substrate or ingestion of silver salt. This report describes a patient with generalized argyria caused by ingestion of homemade colloidal silver solution. The patient learned about the uses of the silver solution and its preparation at a convention for "natural medicine."