Clinical toxicology : the official journal of the American Academy of Clinical Toxicology and European Association of Poisons Centres and Clinical Toxicologists
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Clin Toxicol (Phila) · Jan 2015
Comparative StudyFomepizole versus ethanol in the treatment of acute methanol poisoning: Comparison of clinical effectiveness in a mass poisoning outbreak.
Mass or cluster methanol poisonings are frequently reported from around the world. The comparative effectiveness of ethanol and fomepizole as antidotes for methanol poisoning is unknown due to the difficulty of performing a randomized controlled trial. ⋯ This study on antidotes for methanol poisoning did not show any evidence of different clinical effectiveness. Although ethanol is generally associated with a higher incidence of complications, this study suggests that both antidotes are similarly effective and that ethanol should not be avoided on grounds of effectiveness.
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Clin Toxicol (Phila) · Jan 2015
Case ReportsExtracorporeal life support in the treatment of colchicine poisoning.
Ingestions of Colchicum autumnale may lead to severe poisoning. It begins with gastrointestinal symptoms and leukocytosis, followed by multi-organ failure with shock and a possible late recovery phase. Mortality is highly dependent on the ingested dose. We report a case of accidental C. autumnale poisoning with refractory cardiogenic shock and eventual survival after extracorporeal life support (ECLS). ⋯ This patient survives after the use of ECLS in Colchicum poisoning, with controllable complications. Thus, ECLS might be indicated to overcome the potentially refractory cardiogenic shock phase.
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Clin Toxicol (Phila) · Jan 2015
Case Reports Observational StudyOpioid intoxications involving butyrfentanyl, 4-fluorobutyrfentanyl, and fentanyl from the Swedish STRIDA project.
The supply of unregulated "new psychoactive substances" (NPS) has shown a steady increase over the past six years. This report from the Swedish STRIDA project describes analytically confirmed non-fatal intoxications involving butyrfentanyl (butyrylfentanyl) or 4-fluorobutyrfentanyl (para-fluorobutyrfentanyl), two fentanyl analogues recently introduced as NPS opioids. ⋯ Typical and potentially life-threatening opioid toxicity was seen in acute intoxications involving butyrfentanyl, 4F-butyrfentanyl, and fentanyl. The incorrect labelling of butyrfentanyl NPS products which instead mainly contained fentanyl is alarming, given the narrow range between a safe and a lethal dose for opioids.
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Clin Toxicol (Phila) · Jan 2015
Observational StudyAn outbreak of acute delirium from exposure to the synthetic cannabinoid AB-CHMINACA.
Synthetic cannabinoid containing products are a public health threat as reflected by a number of outbreaks of serious adverse health effects over the past 4 years. The designer drug epidemic is characterized by the rapid turnover of synthetic cannabinoid compounds on the market which creates a challenge in identifying the particular etiology of an outbreak, confirming exposure in cases, and providing current information to law enforcement. ⋯ A coordinated response and collaboration between law enforcement, the local public health, emergency medical services and Health Center staff, were all key interventions in preventing a more substantial public health outbreak resulting from use of a novel synthetic cannabinoid compound. Real time collaborations between toxicology laboratories, suppliers of analytical standards and the public health system may be useful in the face of future novel chemical exposures.
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Clin Toxicol (Phila) · Jan 2015
The pharmacokinetics and extracorporeal removal of N-acetylcysteine during renal replacement therapies.
Acetaminophen-induced fulminant hepatic failure is associated with acute kidney injury, metabolic acidosis, and fluid and electrolyte imbalances, requiring treatment with renal replacement therapies. Although antidote, acetylcysteine, is potentially extracted by renal replacement therapies, pharmacokinetic data are lacking to guide potential dosing alterations. We aimed to determine the extracorporeal removal of acetylcysteine by various renal replacement therapies. ⋯ There was no significant extraction of acetylcysteine from continuous venovenous hemofiltration. In contrast, there was significant extracorporeal removal of acetylcysteine during hemodialysis. A reasonable dose adjustment may be to double the IV infusion rate or possibly supplement with oral acetylcysteine during hemodialysis.