J Korean Soc Emerg Med.
2000 Sep;11(3):345-351.
Plasma Paraquat Concentration in Acute Paraquat Poisoning
Abstract
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BACKGROUND: Paraquat is a bipyridyl compound, and when ingested, concentrated paraquat can cause either rapid death from multisystem failure and cardiovascular shock or delayed death from progressive pulmonary fibrosis. Paraquat is poorly absorbed by inhalation, but when ingested orally, severe illness can occur. Death usually occurs within 2 days if more than 50mg/kg of paraquat is ingested. The most important prognostic indicator is the quantity of paraquat absorbed, as shown by the plasma paraquat concentration. However, in Korea, there are few, if any, institutes that can measure the plasma paraquat concentration, and the prognostic indication depends mostly on the description given by the patients and their families about the amount of paraquat ingested, which is often underestimated or overestimated. For these reasons, we tried to compare the plasma paraquat concentrations with amount of paraquat described by patients or their families.
METHODS
We reviewed the medical records of 59 patients with acute paraquat poisoning from February 1998 through February 1999. The paraquat concentrations in plasma were measured at Presbyterian Medical Center by using high performance liquid chromatography.
RESULTS
There was a striking discrepancy between the plasma paraquat concentration and the ingested amount described by the patients or their families.
CONCLUSION
We recommend that the plasma paraquat concentration be measured in patients being treated for acute paraquat poisoning.
