Chronic Thallium Intoxication: Observation of a Criminal Poisoning

A 42-year-old man experienced abdominal symptoms, hair loss, and increasing distal polyneuropathy in both legs, leading to a clinical suspicion of thallium poisoning, which was confirmed through urine and blood tests. Hair analysis helped determine the timing of the poisoning. Treatment involved symptomatic measures and the administration of potassium-iron (III) hexacyanoferrate (II) (Berlin blue) with forced diuresis. Although the treatment was generally successful, residual symptoms of distal polyneuropathy persisted 6 months after hospital discharge.