title: A long-term follow-up of lung function in survivors of paraquat poisoning.
abstract: 1. Respiratory failure is a frequent cause of death in moderate to severe paraquat poisoning, and a transient fall in the gas transfer factor may be seen in mild poisoning. 2. The objectives of this study were to detect long-term changes in lung function in survivors of paraquat poisoning. 3. We analyzed 12 survivors retrospectively for age, sex, signs and symptoms, laboratory findings, chest X-ray findings, serum paraquat level, and lung function test. The first and the follow-up lung tests were performed at 3.7+/-1.4 weeks and 3.4+/-1.4 years, respectively. 4. Serum paraquat levels were assayed in all patients and 3/12 were above the Proudfoot's predictive line. Liver dysfunction (GOT > 50) and renal dysfunction (BUN > 30) were noted in 5/12 and 8/12, respectively. D(L)/V(A) was lower than the normal limit in the first study (3.9+/-0.6 L), but increased significantly and returned to the normal range in the follow-up study (4.5+/-0.6 L). %VC was within the normal range in either examination, but significantly decreased in the follow-up. %TLC was within the normal range in the first study (87+/-13%), but significantly decreased below the normal limit in the follow-up (81+/-13%). 5. These results indicate that survivors of paraquat poisoning may be left with a restrictive type of pulmonary dysfunction and suggest that a long-term follow-up of lung function may be necessary for survivors of paraquat poisoning.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Tsukuba School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamashita
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamashita
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ando
mesh_terms: D000059:Accidents; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006540:Herbicides / Q000097:blood / Q000506:poisoning*; D006801:Humans; D007677:Kidney Function Tests; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010269:Paraquat / Q000097:blood / Q000506:poisoning*; D012119:Respiration / Q000187:drug effects; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013405:Suicide; D017741:Survivors
chemical_list: D006540:Herbicides; D010269:Paraquat