title: Intravenous paraquat poisoning-induced multiple organ failure and fatality--a report of two cases.
abstract: Paraquat poisoning is the most common cause of fatal herbicide intoxication, mostly through oral ingestion. This work reports two cases of death following intravenous paraquat injection. The clinical courses of the two cases were fulminated and fatal. Toxic symptoms and severe organ function impairment developed soon after paraquat injection. Timely treatment with activated charcoal hemoperfusion with pulse steroid and cyclophosphamide was attempted in both cases; however, both cases died within five days owing to multiple organ failure. In cases of intravenous paraquat intoxication, toxic signs develop more quicker than with oral ingestion. The prognosis of intravenous paraquat intoxication is extremely poor.
authors.affiliation: Poison Center and Department of Nephrology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Hsiang-Hao
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Chiz-Tzung
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Ja-Liang
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000931:Antidotes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002606:Charcoal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006540:Herbicides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000506:poisoning*; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D010269:Paraquat / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000506:poisoning*; D013405:Suicide
chemical_list: D000931:Antidotes; D006540:Herbicides; D002606:Charcoal; D010269:Paraquat; D010100:Oxygen