title: Acute intoxication with the adjuvant itself for Gramoxone INTEON.
abstract: The adjuvant for Gramoxone INTEON is composed of 20% methanol, 20% sodium lingo sulphonate, 10% alkylaryl polyoxyethylene ether, and 50% water. Although the adjuvant is a potential source of intoxication due to the widespread use of Gramoxone INTEON, there has been no prior report characterizing the acute toxicity of this adjuvant. This study evaluated the acute toxicity of adjuvant ingestion. Seven patients presenting with acute adjuvant intoxication at Chonnam National University Hospital were enrolled in this retrospective study. The patients had intentionally or accidentally ingested 20-150 mL of adjuvant. Gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea and vomiting were most common, and no ocular symptoms were reported. Cardiovascular symptoms were limited to electrocardiogram changes such as corrected QT interval (QTc) prolongation (71.4%) and sinus tachycardia (28.6%). All patients had an elevated serum osmolar gap and lactate levels. One patient had metabolic acidosis with a high anion gap that required administration of sodium bicarbonate. These clinical symptoms were resolved within 3 days with supportive treatment without any sequelae. There were no life-threatening symptoms and no deaths. However, the physician should keep in mind the possibility of methanol intoxication in patients poisoned with this adjuvant.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, South Korea.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: Byeong J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Chun
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000139:chemically induced; D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000633:toxicity*; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006540:Herbicides; D006801:Humans; D008133:Long QT Syndrome / Q000139:chemically induced; D008297:Male; D000432:Methanol / Q000633:toxicity*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced; D010269:Paraquat; D013610:Tachycardia / Q000139:chemically induced; D014839:Vomiting / Q000139:chemically induced
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D006540:Herbicides; D010269:Paraquat; D000432:Methanol