title: [Today's threat of ricin toxin].
abstract: Since the late 70s of the last century there were more than 700 incidents related to the use of the ricin toxin. For this reason, CDC (Center of Disease Control and Prevention) recognized toxin as a biological weapon category B. The lethal dose of ricin toxin after parenteral administration is 0.0001 mg/kg and after oral administration 0.2 mg. The first symptoms of poisoning occur within a few hours after application of toxin as a nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In the final stage there are observed: cardiac arrhythmia, collapse and symptoms suggestive of involvement of the central nervous system. Stage immediately preceding death is a state of coma. The ricin toxin is still the substance against which action has no optimal antidote. Developed a vaccine called RiVax is waiting for its registration. It should be pointed out that the availability of a ricin toxin makes it possible to use it for real bioterrorists.
authors.affiliation: Military Institute of Medicine in Warsaw, Department of Internal Medicine, Pneumonology and Allergology, Central Clinical Hospital of Ministry of National Defence.
authors.forename: Sławomir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: From
authors.affiliation: Military Institute of Medicine in Warsaw, Department of Internal Medicine, Pneumonology and Allergology, Central Clinical Hospital of Ministry of National Defence.
authors.forename: Tadeusz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Płusa
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D000284:Administration, Oral; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D054045:Biological Warfare Agents; D023482:Bioterrorism; D003128:Coma / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000517:prevention & control; D012276:Ricin / Q000633:toxicity*; D014612:Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D054045:Biological Warfare Agents; C509236:RiVax; D014612:Vaccines; D012276:Ricin
keywords: emergency procedures; ricin toxin; symptoms; the dose