title: Acute arsenic poisoning: absence of polyneuropathy after treatment with 2,3-dimercaptopropanesulphonate (DMPS).
abstract: 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).
authors.affiliation: Poisons Unit, Guy's Hospital, London.
authors.forename: D F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: O'Callaghan
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Berlyne
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Ogg
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: I M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: House
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Henry
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D014494:Unithiol