title: Epidemiology of organophosphate intoxication and predictors of intermediate syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the usefulness of plasma glucose and serum cholinesterase levels as predictors of organophosphate-induced intermediate syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-one organophosphate poisoning patients who were admitted to our emergency department during a 4-year period were evaluated retrospectively. Four patients were excluded from the study due to a lack of medical records. Categorical variables were analyzed using the chi-square test and nonparametric variables were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-five (52.2%) patients were male and 32(47.8%) were female. Patients had a mean age of 39.4 ± 15.9 years and 70.1% of the patients were married. Oral intake (68.7%) was the most common method of intoxication, and attempted suicide (67.2%) was the most common cause. The most common organophosphates were methamidophos (20.8%), dichlorvos (19.4%), parathion (7.5%), and methyl parathion (7.5%). Fifty-seven (85%) patients were treated in the emergency observation unit and 10 (15%) patients were admitted to the intensive care unit. Eleven (16%) patients developed intermediate syndrome and had significantly lower levels of serum cholinesterase (P < 0.01) and higher blood glucose levels (P = 0.037).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Initial serum cholinesterase and glucose levels measured in the emergency department may be a useful marker in predicting organophosphate-induced intermediate syndrome.
authors.forename: Şahin
authors.initials: Ş
authors.lastname: Çolak
authors.forename: Mehmet Özgür
authors.initials: MÖ
authors.lastname: Erdoğan
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baydin
authors.forename: Mustafa Ahmet
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Afacan
authors.forename: Celal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kati
authors.forename: Latif
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Duran
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D002801:Cholinesterase Reactivators / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002802:Cholinesterases / Q000097:blood; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000139:chemically induced; D062025:Organophosphate Poisoning / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D010091:Oximes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012133:Respiratory Paralysis / Q000139:chemically induced; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D014839:Vomiting / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D002801:Cholinesterase Reactivators; D010091:Oximes; D002802:Cholinesterases