OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical therapeutic effect of methylprednisolone combined with cyclophosphamide and Etanercept method on acute paraquat poisoning.

METHODS136 patients with acute paraquat poisoning were divided into the normal therapy group and the intensive therapy group randomly. Methylprednisolone, cyclophosphamide and Etanercept were used in the intensive therapy group. Methylprednisolone 500 mg was given intravenously per day for continuous three days followed by 200 mg intravenous per day. Then methylprednisolone was decreased gradually 14 d or 21 d later according to the patient's condition. Cyclophosphamide 600 mg was given intravenously twice weekly for 2 weeks and Etanercept 25 mg was given hypodermic injection twice weekly for 3 weeks. Curative effect evaluation was done at 7, 14, 21 d and 12 weeks after therapy.

RESULTSThe survival rate of the intensive therapy group was obviously higher than that of the normal therapy group (P<0.01) on 7, 4, 21 d and 12 weeks. The cure rate of the intensive group were 94.6% (intake dose<50 ml 20% paraquat solution), 75.0% (intake dose 50 approximately 100 ml 20% paraquat solution), 12.5% (intake dose>100 ml 20% paraquat solution) respectively, while the cure rate of the normal group were 16.7% (intake dose<50 ml 20% paraquat solution), 8.3% (intake dose 50 approximately 100 ml 20% paraquat solution), 0% (intake dose>100 ml 20% paraquat solution) respectively. The total cure rate of the intensive therapy group (78.3%) 12 weeks later was higher than that of the normal group (11.9%).

CONCLUSIONMethylprednisolone combined with cyclophosphamide and Etanercept intensive therapy has the curative effect on acute paraquat poisoning.