title: Successful treatment of patients with paraquat intoxication: three case reports and review of the literature.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report on three patients with paraquat (PQ) intoxication surviving after combined therapy with hemoperfusion (HP), cyclophosphamide (CTX), and glucocorticoid.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three patients suffered acute renal failure in a few days after ingesting a lethal amount of PQ. Chest computed tomography (CT) scans revealed obvious pulmonary inflammation, pleural effusion, and fibrous lesions several days after ingestion. HP was performed immediately, followed by large doses of glucocorticoid (methylprednisolone, 500 g/d) and CTX (approximately 4 g).
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 50 d of treatments, all three patients were discharged in healthy condition, with chest CT showing small fibrous lesions, exudation, and both lungs clear of auscultation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The protective effect of the lungs may have been due to timely treatment at adequate doses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Qin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Wei-zhen
authors.initials: WZ
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Yuan-qiang
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Jie-zan
authors.initials: JZ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: An-dong
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Shang
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006464:Hemoperfusion; D006540:Herbicides / Q000506:poisoning; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055370:Lung Injury / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000628:therapy*; D010269:Paraquat / Q000506:poisoning*; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D006540:Herbicides; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D010269:Paraquat