title: Severe hypoglycemia following acute aluminum phosphide (rice tablet) poisoning; a case report and review of the literature.
abstract: Aluminum phosphide (AlP) as 3 g tablet is widely used in Iran to protect stored food grains from pests. Hyperglycemia following its ingestion has been already reported in the recent years but severe hypoglycemia is uncommon. Here, we report a 19 year old male who attempted suicide with one tablet of AlP and demonstrated severe hypoglycemia. Despite restoration of blood glucose concentration to normal, he failed to respond to supportive treatment and died. The possible mechanisms leading to severe hypoglycemia are discussed. Though severe hypoglycemia is rare following AlP poisoning, physicians managing such patients should be aware of it.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Toxicology and Forensic Medicine, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran.
authors.forename: Omid
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Mehrpour
authors.forename: Abbas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aghabiklooei
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abdollahi
authors.forename: Surjit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Singh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017607:Aluminum Compounds / Q000506:poisoning*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000209:etiology*; D010720:Phosphines / Q000506:poisoning*; D011041:Poisoning / Q000150:complications; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D017607:Aluminum Compounds; D010720:Phosphines; C001864:aluminum phosphide