Sequelae of attempted suicide by cyanide ingestion: a case report.
A twenty-eight-year-old man presented emergently after ingesting 800 mg of potassium cyanide in a suicide attempt. He survived only with intensive medical and psychiatric intervention, and went on to develop severe parkinsonian symptoms, including profound micrographia and hypersalivation. Bilateral, symmetrical basal ganglial abnormalities were demonstrated with magnetic resonance imaging. Survival following cyanide poisoning is rare; the clinical, radiologic, and neuropathologic sequelae in other documented cases are reviewed.
Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710.
J M
JM
Feldman
M D
MD
Feldman
D000328:Adult; D001479:Basal Ganglia / Q000187:drug effects; D003486:Cyanides / Q000506:poisoning*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D062787:Drug Overdose / Q000150:complications*; D004401:Dysarthria / Q000139:chemically induced; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000187:drug effects; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005917:Globus Pallidus / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010302:Parkinson Disease, Secondary / Q000139:chemically induced*; D011190:Potassium Cyanide / Q000506:poisoning*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology*
D003486:Cyanides; D011190:Potassium Cyanide