title: An unusual case of methyl bromide poisoning.
abstract: A nonlethal poisoning case by methyl bromide in a young woman due to leakage of old fire extinguishers is described. The patient developed major action and intention myoclonus the day following exposure. Inorganic bromide concentrations in plasma were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The initial plasma bromide level was 202 mg/L, 40-fold in excess than the commonly accepted tolerance limit, and decreased slowly to normal levels within 2 months. Although plasma inorganic bromide concentration is known not to be directly correlated to the severity of organic bromide poisoning, its determination was, in the present case, particularly useful to confirm the diagnosis. One year post-exposure, the patient showed no sign of central nervous system toxicity. While such a case of poisoning is particularly rare today, it illustrates, however, that the danger still exists in France although the destruction
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Pharmacologie et Toxicologie, Hĵpital Maison Blanche, CHU de Reims, France. ghoizey@chu-reims.fr
authors.forename: Guillaume
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hoizey
authors.forename: Pierre-François
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Souchon
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Trenque
authors.forename: Carole
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Frances
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lamiable
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nicolas
authors.forename: Francis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Grossenbacher
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sabouraud
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bednarek
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Motte
authors.forename: Hervé
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Millart
mesh_terms: D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002138:Calibration; D002648:Child; D002998:Clonazepam / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005388:Fire Extinguishing Systems; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006801:Humans; D006842:Hydrocarbons, Brominated / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood / Q000506:poisoning*; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D009207:Myoclonus / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D006842:Hydrocarbons, Brominated; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D002998:Clonazepam; C005218:methyl bromide