title: Clinical characteristics of patients after dicamba herbicide ingestion.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Despite a widespread use of dicamba herbicide and numerous animal model studies, there had not been studies on acute toxicity of this chemical compound in human subjects following ingestion. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate clinical characteristics of dicamba poisoning and to guide physicians treating patients intoxicated with dicamba herbicide.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective observational case series was conducted for 14 patients with history of dicamba herbicide ingestion. Data were collected for clinical manifestation, patient management, and final outcome.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most common symptom was altered mental state (Glasgow Coma Scale ≤ 14). Laboratory abnormalities were elevations in lactate, and creatine kinase, metabolic acidosis (pH < 7.35, and HCO3(-) < 20 mmol/L), and elevated lipase. QTc prolongation was commonly observed. These abnormal clinical findings had normalized within two days of supportive treatment after dicamba ingestion. One patient did demonstrate corrosive esophagitis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Acute toxicity of dicamba herbicide in human following oral exposure was manageable with supportive treatment. However, physician should take into account for corrosive effect on GI tract, rhabdomyolysis, or acute pancreatitis.
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: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Chun
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D002606:Charcoal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003996:Dicamba / Q000506:poisoning*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D057286:Electronic Health Records; D004906:Erythrocyte Count; D005260:Female; D005751:Gastric Lavage; D006540:Herbicides / Q000506:poisoning*; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017693:Sodium Bicarbonate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013406:Suicide, Attempted; D013534:Survival; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D006540:Herbicides; D002606:Charcoal; D017693:Sodium Bicarbonate; D003996:Dicamba