Deliberate self-poisoning with rodenticide: a diagnostic dilemma.
A 71-year-old man presented with a recurrent bleeding diathesis requiring frequent blood transfusions, vitamin K and fresh frozen plasma. Extensive investigations revealed vitamin K deficiency. After repeated interviews the patient admitted to deliberately ingesting rat poison. Superwarfarins are an uncommon cause of deranged clotting and specialised tests are available to identify them. They can cause prolonged coagulation abnormalities and may require treatment with oral vitamin K for several months after just a single dose.
Walker
J
J
Department of Medicine, Yeovil District Hospital, Somerset, UK.
Beach
F X M
FX
D015110:4-Hydroxycoumarins / Q000506:poisoning*; D000368:Aged; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012378:Rodenticides / Q000506:poisoning*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted; D014813:Vitamin K Deficiency / Q000139:chemically induced*
D015110:4-Hydroxycoumarins; D012378:Rodenticides; C013418:bromfenacoum