Successful Management of Fatal Paraquat Poisoning with Four Courses of Steroid and Cyclophosphamide Pulse.
- Author:
Kyung Lee KIM
1
;
Chang Seob LEE
;
Mi Jin LEE
;
Hyo Sun KIM
;
Myung Jin CHOI
;
Jong Woo YOON
;
Ja Ryong KOO
Author Information
1. Department of Internal Medicine, Chunchoen Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Chuncheon, Korea. jrkoo@hallym.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
Cyclophosphamide;
Paraquat;
Pulmonary fibrosis;
Steroid
- MeSH:
Anoxia;
Bone Marrow;
Cyclophosphamide;
Eating;
Fatal Outcome;
Hemoperfusion;
Humans;
Immunosuppression;
Lung Injury;
Mouth;
Paraquat;
Pulmonary Fibrosis
- From:Korean Journal of Medicine
2012;83(3):373-377
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
Although severe paraquat poisoning is fatal, intensive immunosuppression can be successful in selected patients. We report the case of a 33-yr-old patient who was poisoned by paraquat and developed multi-organ failure, progressive hypoxemia, and pulmonary fibrosis. The patient was successfully treated with four courses of immunosuppressive pulse therapy. The patient presented to the hospital 2.5 hours after ingesting 2 mouthfuls of paraquat. The serum level of paraquat was 10.40 microg/mL at 3 hours and 3.36 microg/mL at 10 hours after ingestion, which is predictive of a fatal outcome. The first course of steroid and cyclophosphamide pulse therapy was initiated after hemoperfusion. During the hospital course, the patient showed progressive hypoxemia with pulmonary fibrosis. Accordingly, three additional courses of immunosuppressive pulse therapy were administered to prevent pulmonary injury. This treatment inevitably led to bone marrow suppression, which was recovered with supportive care. The patient fully recovered after repeated immunosuppressive pulse therapy without residual hypoxemia and was successfully discharged from the hospital.
