title: Acute intoxication and recovery following massive turpentine ingestion: clinical and toxicological data.
abstract: Reports of acute turpentine intoxication, particularly containing toxicological data, are poorly verified in the literature. This report regards the intentional massive ingestion of turpentine solution in an elderly woman who developed mainly central nervous system manifestations, then had an impressive and quick total recovery although the initial prognosis was very bad. Blood and urine levels of turpentine were monitored using gas chromatography and at the early toxicogenic stage were 28 micrograms/mL and 15 micrograms/mL respectively. Gastric fluid analysis on admission to the hospital revealed the presence of approximately 200 mL turpentine in the intestine. A review of earlier reports is given.
authors.affiliation: Intensive Care Unit, Venizelion General Peripheral Hospital, Iraklion, Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Troulakis
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Tsatsakis
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tzatzarakis
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Astrakianakis
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dolapsakis
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kostas
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005751:Gastric Lavage; D006801:Humans; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012997:Solvents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism / Q000506:poisoning*; D014425:Turpentine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism / Q000506:poisoning*
chemical_list: D012997:Solvents; D014425:Turpentine