Psychiatric Symptoms due to Cobalt Toxicity: A Case Report

Pallavi; Mohd Kamil; Vipin Singh; Muktesh Singh

doi:10.5005/jtric-11018-0007

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Psychiatric Symptoms due to Cobalt Toxicity: A Case Report

Pallavi, Mohd Kamil, Vipin Singh, Muktesh Singh

Keywords : Alloys, Case report, Chromium, Cobalt, Hallucinations, Intensive care units, Metal-on-metal joint prostheses

Citation Information : Pallavi, Kamil M, Singh V, Singh M. Psychiatric Symptoms due to Cobalt Toxicity: A Case Report. 2024; 1 (1):10-11.

DOI: 10.5005/jtric-11018-0007

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

Published Online: 20-07-2024

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Abstract

Cobalt is thought to cause a variety of symptoms in patients whose toxic amounts accumulate in the blood. Cobalt poisoning may be due to metal implants. A 50-year-old female had a fracture of the neck of the femur and underwent total hip arthroplasty under spinal anesthesia. On postoperative day 8, she became restless and hyperactive, persistently repeating words and actions and having visual hallucinations. Psychiatry opinion was taken, and intensive care units (ICUs)-induced psychosis could be ruled out. Meanwhile, her serum cobalt levels were sent, keeping in mind the differential diagnosis of cobalt-induced neuropsychiatric toxicity, and the levels were S. Cobalt – 10.88 µg/L. After discontinuing cobalt-containing medications, the patient gradually improved symptomatically over 2–4 days and was eventually discharged from the ICU.

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