Survival after a lethal dose of arsenic trioxide.
A case of a 27-year-old woman who ingested 9000 mg arsenic trioxide (As2O3) is reported. Classical symptoms of an acute arsenicum (As) poisoning such as gastrointestinal cramps, vomiting, diarrhea, ECG changes and disturbed liver function tests were observed. The absorption of the ingested As was minimalized by a continuous gastric irrigation with highly concentrated NaHCO3 and intestinal cleansing with NaHCO3 and polyethyleneglycol was performed. Forced diuresis, BAL (2,3-dimercaptopropanol) and DMSA (meso-2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid) were started and therapy to enhance the formation of methylated As derivatives, which are potentially less toxic and which can be excreted more easily, was then administered. The patient survived this massive dose of ingested inorganic As with only polyneuropathy one year later.
Vantroyen
Barbara
B
Department of Emergency Medicine, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Leuven, Belgium. barbara.vantroyen@pandora.be
Heilier
J F
JF
Meulemans
Agnes
A
Michels
Arnold
A
Buchet
J P
JP
Vanderschueren
Steven
S
Haufroid
V
V
Sabbe
Marc
M
D000328:Adult; D000931:Antidotes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077237:Arsenic Trioxide; D001152:Arsenicals / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D002606:Charcoal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010087:Oxides / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000506:poisoning*; D011860:Radiography, Abdominal; D017693:Sodium Bicarbonate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013406:Suicide, Attempted; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation
D000931:Antidotes; D001152:Arsenicals; D002614:Chelating Agents; D010087:Oxides; D002606:Charcoal; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D017693:Sodium Bicarbonate; D000077237:Arsenic Trioxide