title: Chemical warfare agents: II. Nerve agents.
abstract: Nerve agents are highly potent and rapidly acting organophosphorus compounds that irreversibly bind and inactive acetylcholinesterase. Only rarely have they been used in warfare, but their great lethality and the threat that they pose have encouraged production and stockpiling in large quantities. They differ in a number of important ways from common agricultural organophosphate insecticides. In light of recent threats of chemical warfare and the possibilities of chemical acts of terrorism, North American physicians should be knowledgeable of the effects of these agents and the care of exposure victims.
authors.affiliation: United States Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland.
authors.forename: F R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Sidell
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Borak
mesh_terms: D000931:Antidotes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000187:drug effects; D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents / Q000506:poisoning*; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D003666:Decontamination; D005123:Eye / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects; D009420:Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects*; D062025:Organophosphate Poisoning; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D011041:Poisoning / Q000628:therapy; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D000931:Antidotes; D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds