[Liquid ecstasy poisoning: study of 22 cases].
BACKGROUND
To describe characteristics of acute poisoning with liquid ecstasy (gammahydroxybutyrate, GHB).


METHODS
Epidemiological and clinical data of patients with acute GHB poisoning seen at emergency department (ED) along one year were collected.


RESULTS
22 patients were included. Typical profile corresponds to a young male, who consults on weekend, at night, complaining of a marked decreased level of consciousness. Patients refer coingestion of other drugs and typically regain consciousness spontaneously in a short time.


CONCLUSIONS
The frequency of GHB poisoning has increased notably in our environment. GHB poisoning must be considered on the differential diagnostic of coma of unknown origin in young patients attended in ED.
Espinosa
G
G
Unidad de Urgencias de Medicina. Servicio de Urgencias. Hospital Clínic. Barcelona.
Miró O
Nogué
S
S
To-Figuera
J
J
Sánchez
M
M
Coll-Vinent
B
B
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004630:Emergencies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006885:Hydroxybutyrates / Q000506:poisoning*; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000506:poisoning*; D008297:Male; D011041:Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology
D006885:Hydroxybutyrates; D013287:Illicit Drugs; C111420:4-hydroxybutyric acid