title: Experiences with acute organophosphate poisonings in Crete.
abstract: Nine human acute poisonings due to intentional ingestion of organophosphorous pesticides are presented. Six of the victims died. Six patients were treated in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) from 34 h to 45 d, while 3 were found dead by relatives. Two of the patients treated in the ICU fully recovered after 15 and 24 d while the third survivor developed delayed neuropathy. Organophosphate blood levels were determined on admission and during therapy, and in 1 case atropine and pralidoxime levels were also detected. Significant fluctuations of the plasma cholinesterase activity were observed during therapy. Postmortem analysis revealed higher levels of pesticides in organs (eg 23.1 micrograms fenthion/g kidney) and in fat (135.2 micrograms fenthion/g) than in blood (eg 4.8 micrograms fenthion/ml) and vitreous humor. Considerable pesticide was measured in testis (eg 5.8 micrograms fenthion/g, 0.8 micrograms methidathion/g) and uterus (170.5 micrograms malathion/g). Extracorporeal decontamination to enhance pesticide elimination is a therapeutic challenge.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Toxicology, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Tsatsakis
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Aguridakis
authors.forename: M N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Michalodimitrakis
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Tsakalov
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Alegakis
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Koumantakis
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Troulakis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000506:poisoning; D004117:Dimethoate / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000506:poisoning; D005260:Female; D005284:Fenthion / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000506:poisoning; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007306:Insecticides / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000506:poisoning*; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008294:Malathion / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000506:poisoning; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D062025:Organophosphate Poisoning; D063086:Organothiophosphates / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D009946:Organothiophosphorus Compounds / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000506:poisoning; D010707:Phosphamidon / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000506:poisoning; D011041:Poisoning / Q000401:mortality; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014599:Uterus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D007306:Insecticides; D063086:Organothiophosphates; D009946:Organothiophosphorus Compounds; D010707:Phosphamidon; D005284:Fenthion; D008294:Malathion; C054137:mecarbam; D004117:Dimethoate; C005828:methidathion