title: Recovery of respiratory function in survivors with paraquat intoxication.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate chest radiograms and respiratory function changes, including pulmonary function tests and alveolar-arterial oxygen difference, in survivors with paraquat intoxication. Chest radiograms and pulmonary function tests for 21 paraquat-poisoned patients were performed 10 d after paraquat intoxication; 3 mo later, the tests were repeated in 16 patients who survived. Forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 s, diffusing capacity of the lung, and alveolar-arterial oxygen difference were compromised after paraquat intoxication. Forced expiratory volume in 1 s and forced vital capacity correlated significantly with initial platelet counts (r = .453 and .443, respectively) 10 d after intoxication. The alveolar-arterial oxygen difference also correlated significantly with peak serum total bilirubin concentrations (r = .443) and initial platelet counts (r = .469). The follow-up data for respiratory functions forced expiratory volume in 1 s; 74.33 +/- 27.1% versus 97.89 +/- 16.39%; forced vital capacity: 71.44 +/- 26.03% versus 93.22 +/- 13.92%; diffusing capacity of lung: 60.11 +/- 27.61% versus 81.67 +/- 24.56%; alveolar-arterial oxygen difference: 37.95 +/- 24.32 mm Hg versus 7.75 +/- 9.94 mm Hg) and chest radiograms of survivors with moderate to severe paraquat poisoning showed significant improvements 3 mo after intoxication. The results demonstrated that paraquat-induced respiratory function impairments could recover significantly, at least partially, with time. In addition, pulmonary structure damage improved, as shown in the follow-up chest radiographs.
authors.affiliation: Poison Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Lin-Kou Medical Center, Chang Gung Medical College, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Leu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010269:Paraquat / Q000506:poisoning*; D010976:Platelet Count; D011041:Poisoning / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D011859:Radiography; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D010269:Paraquat; D001663:Bilirubin