Predicting Acute Intoxication of Glufosinate-containing Herbicides: A Comparative Study of a Group with Complication Versus the Others without Complication in Single Institution

Kim, Young Ki; Kim, Ki Hwan; Moon, Hyung Jun; Jeong, Dong Kil; Lee, Dong Wook; Park, Sae Hoon; Lee, Jung Won

Abstract

PURPOSE
Glufosinate-containing herbicides intoxication causes mild to severe complication, depending on patients' factors. However, it is not clearly known whether there are factors affecting glufosinate-containing herbicides intoxicated patients who develop complications. Thus, we sought to identify independent factors comparing the complicated group with the non-complicated group and to predict which patients will develop subsequent medical complication.
METHODS
The medical records of patients with exposure to Glufosinate-containing herbicides at a tertiary academic university hospital in Korea from January 2012 to April 2015 were reviewed retrospectively. Demographic and clinical data of 75 patients were then analyzed by univariate and multivariate stepwise logistic regression analyses to identify potential predictors of significant complications following acute Glufosinate-containing herbicides poisoning for comparison of complicated patients with non-complicated patients.
RESULTS
Of 75 patients, 44 (58.6%) had medical complications and 6 (8%) were dead. Neurologic complications (n=26, 35%) were the most common including seizure (n=18), delirium tremens (n=5), and amnesia (n=4). The results of univariate analysis showed that an advanced age (>60 years old), higher ingested amount of the herbicide (>100 mL), vomiting at arrival, medical history of hypertension, metabolic acidosis, and systemic inflammatory response score (SIRS)> or =2 were significant factors. However, the results of multivariate analysis showed that an advanced age (p<0.001) and higher ingested amount of herbicide (p<0.001) were independent factors associated with serious complications and require aggressive medical treatment.
CONCLUSION
The results of this study showed that age>60 years, and amount ingested>100 mL were significant predictive factors for significant medical complications in patients with Glufosinate-containing herbicides poisoning.