Association between plasma paraquat level and outcome of paraquat poisoning in 375 paraquat poisoning patients.
OBJECTIVE
Paraquat poisoning by ingestion is often fatal. Many studies have investigated treatment modalities and predictor parameters, but there is no standard treatment. Plasma paraquat concentration seems a valid predictable parameter of survival. In order to achieve uniform treatment, including extracorporeal elimination and antioxidant therapy, the outcome of paraquat poisoning based on plasma paraquat level needs to be investigated.


METHODS
This study included 375 paraquat poisoning patients who were diagnosed by means of plasma paraquat concentration within 24 hours after ingestion in the Institute of Pesticide Poisoning of Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital, Korea, from January 2005 to December 2006. All patients were treated according to a uniform protocol including extracorporeal elimination and antioxidant therapy. Plasma paraquat concentration was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography.


RESULTS
The mean age of the paraquat-intoxicated patients was 48.42 +/- 6.75. One hundred ten patients (29.3%) survived. The upper limit of plasma paraquat concentration in survivors was 2.64 at 3 hour. All patients with plasma paraquat level above 3.44 died. The minimum paraquat level of the deaths was very low (0.12 microg/ml at 5 hours; 0.02 microg/ml at 12 hours; 0.01 microg/ml at 24 hours).


CONCLUSIONS
Our data showed that plasma paraquat concentration is good predictor of survivors but is not good predictor of non-survivors in the low plasma paraquat level.
Gil
Hyo-Wook
HW
Department of Internal Medicine, Soonchunhyang Cheonan Hospital, Cheonan, Republic of Korea.
Kang
Mun-Soo
MS
Yang
Jong-Oh
JO
Lee
Eun-Young
EY
Hong
Sae-Yong
SY
D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005260:Female; D006540:Herbicides / Q000097:blood / Q000506:poisoning*; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010269:Paraquat / Q000097:blood / Q000506:poisoning*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000975:Antioxidants; D006540:Herbicides; D010269:Paraquat