Recovery after radiotherapy from severe interstitial pneumonia due to paraquat poisoning.
A 51-year-old man was admitted 3 hours after ingesting approximately 50 ml of mixture of paraquat and organophosphate insecticide. His arterial oxygen pressure fell progressively to 44.6 mmHg. Diagnosed was paraquat-induced interstitial pneumonia. No improvement was observed after treatment with corticosteroid. The pneumonia, however, resolved after irradiation of both lungs and arterial oxygen pressure showed marked improvement. Radiotherapy to the lungs should be considered only in patients who showed progressive deterioration of respiratory function.
Department of Internal Medicine, Saga Medical School, Japan.
M
M
Shirahama
T
T
Sakemi
S
S
Osato
T
T
Sanai
O
O
Rikitake
S
S
Wada
D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D010269:Paraquat / Q000506:poisoning*; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011829:Radiation Dosage
D010269:Paraquat; D008775:Methylprednisolone