Acute arsenic poisoning: absence of polyneuropathy after treatment with 2,3-dimercaptopropanesulphonate (DMPS).
Two men aged 19 and 21 years ingested 1 g and 4 g respectively from 3 kg of a white crystalline powder that they thought was a substance of abuse. It was later identified as almost pure arsenic trioxide. Both had nausea and vomiting and one developed acute renal failure. Each was treated with 2,3-dimercaptopropanesulphonate (DMPS), and made a full recovery with no evidence of prolonged renal or neurological impairment. The DMPS-arsenic complex is probably associated with lower penetration into the CNS and as a consequence treatment with DMPS may result in lower acute and chronic neurotoxicity than treatment with the currently standard recommended chelating agent dimercaprol (British Anti-Lewisite; BAL).
Moore
D F
DF
Poisons Unit, Guy's Hospital, London.
O'Callaghan
C A
CA
Berlyne
G
G
Ogg
C S
CS
Davies
H A
HA
House
I M
IM
Henry
J A
JA
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D020261:Arsenic Poisoning; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014494:Unithiol / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D014494:Unithiol