An unusual case of methyl bromide poisoning.
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
Hoizey
Guillaume
G
Laboratoire de Pharmacologie et Toxicologie, Hĵpital Maison Blanche, CHU de Reims, France. ghoizey@chu-reims.fr
Souchon
Pierre-François
PF
Trenque
Thierry
T
Frances
Carole
C
Lamiable
Denis
D
Nicolas
Anne
A
Grossenbacher
Francis
F
Sabouraud
Pascal
P
Bednarek
Nathalie
N
Motte
Jacques
J
Millart
Hervé
H
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
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D006842:Hydrocarbons, Brominated; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D002998:Clonazepam; C005218:methyl bromide