title: Prevalence of pulmonary edema among the deceased cases with acute Methadone poisoning: A report from Iran.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Methadone poisoning is common in our society, mainly in drug addicts. One of its lethal complications is pulmonary edema. Therefore, we evaluated the prevalence of pulmonary edema in the deceased cases with methadone poisoning and its possible relationship with some medical variables.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross-sectional study which was done in 2014, we have investigated the deceased patients with methadone toxicity who underwent autopsy at Isfahan Forensic Medicine Department (Iran). All variables including age, gender, and autopsy findings were recorded and analyzed. Demographic characteristics and medical complications of the patients were compared between the patients with or without pulmonary edema in the autopsy findings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 64 cases who died with methadone poisoning during the 1-year study period. The average age of cases (±standard deviation) was 32.1 ± 10.29 years, among which 92.2% were male. Based on the autopsy findings, 64.1% were diagnosed with pulmonary edema. There was no statistically significant relationship between pulmonary edema and age, gender, history of addiction, and hepatic or cardiovascular complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pulmonary edema is a common finding in deceased methadone poisoning cases and must be considered and ruled out in patients with acute methadone toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Isfahan Clinical Toxicology Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Nastaran
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Eizadi-Mood
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Seyed Amir Hossein Madani
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Naeini
authors.affiliation: Isfahan Clinical Toxicology Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Mahrang
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hedaiaty
authors.affiliation: Isfahan Clinical Toxicology Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Ali Mohammad
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Sabzghabaee
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Birjand, Birjand, Iran.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moudi
keywords: Methadone poisoning; mortality; pulmonary edema