Ophthalmic drops causing coma in an infant.
A 1-month-old infant with Peters anomaly had recurrent episodes of unresponsiveness, hypotension, hypotonia, hypothermia, and bradycardia. An extensive medical evaluation determined these episodes to be caused by brimonidine, an anti-glaucoma agent. There is the potential for serious toxic effects from the systemic absorption of topically applied ophthalmic agents in children.
Oregon Poison Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, 97207, USA.
R J
RJ
Berlin
U T
UT
Lee
J R
JR
Samples
L F
LF
Rich
D D
DD
Tang-Liu
K A
KA
Sing
R D
RD
Steiner
D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000506:poisoning*; D000068438:Brimonidine Tartrate; D003128:Coma / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005124:Eye Abnormalities / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000506:poisoning*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011810:Quinoxalines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000506:poisoning*; D013577:Syndrome
D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D011810:Quinoxalines; D000068438:Brimonidine Tartrate