Efficacy of hydroxocobalamin for the treatment of acute cyanide poisoning in adult beagle dogs.
BACKGROUND
The efficacy of hydroxocobalamin for acute cyanide poisoning was compared with that of saline vehicle in dogs.


METHODS
Anesthetized adult beagle dogs were administered potassium cyanide (0.4 mg/kg/min, IV) until 3 min after the onset of apnea. Hydroxocobalamin (75 mg/kg [n = 19] or 150 mg/kg [n = 18], IV) or saline vehicle [n = 17] was then infused over 7.5 min while animals were ventilated with 100% oxygen, which was stopped after 15 min.


RESULTS
In vehicle-treated animals cyanide produced deterioration that culminated in a moribund state requiring euthanasia within 4 h in 10 of 17 animals and in neurological deficits necessitating euthanasia within 2-4 d in an additional 4 animals (mortality rate 82%). Survival through 14 d was observed in 15 of 19 animals administered hydroxocobalamin 75 mg/kg (mortality rate 21%), and 18 of 18 administered hydroxocobalamin 150 mg/kg (mortality rate 0%).


CONCLUSIONS
Hydroxocobalamin reversed cyanide toxicity and reduced mortality in a canine model.
Borron
Stephen W
SW
University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas 78229-3900, USA. borron@uthscsa.edu
Stonerook
Michael
M
Reid
Frances
F
D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D000931:Antidotes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure; D004285:Dogs; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects; D006879:Hydroxocobalamin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D011041:Poisoning / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D011190:Potassium Cyanide / Q000097:blood / Q000506:poisoning*; D011897:Random Allocation; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage
D000931:Antidotes; D019344:Lactic Acid; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D011190:Potassium Cyanide; D006879:Hydroxocobalamin