Full recovery after a chloroquine suicide attempt.
The nonfatal case of a 20 year-old woman who ingested 6 grams of chloroquine in a suicide attempt is reported. After initial ventricular fibrillation, she rapidly developed a pulmonary edema with cardiogenic shock. She was successfully treated with diazepam, epinephrine, dobutamine and mechanical ventilation. Plasma chloroquine levels showed an initial peak of 36 micrograms/mL. The patient was discharged fully recovered after 19 days. The interaction between chloroquine and diazepam is discussed, as is the need for careful management of epinephrine therapy.
Bauer
P
P
Department of Intensive Care Unit, University Hospital, Hôpital Central, Nancy, France.
Maire
B
B
Weber
M
M
Bollaert
P E
PE
Larcan
A
A
Lambert
H
H
D000328:Adult; D002738:Chloroquine / Q000097:blood / Q000506:poisoning*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003975:Diazepam / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004280:Dobutamine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011041:Poisoning / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D011654:Pulmonary Edema / Q000139:chemically induced; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012770:Shock, Cardiogenic / Q000139:chemically induced; D013406:Suicide, Attempted; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000139:chemically induced
D004280:Dobutamine; D002738:Chloroquine; D003975:Diazepam; D004837:Epinephrine