Impact on mormortality of o one conjugated treatment in 10 paraquat intoxicated patients attended at the San Vicente de Paul University Hospital in Medellín, Colombia, from august 2002 to august 2003

Abstract

Paraquat is a frequently used herbicide in Colombia. Its ingestion produces a severe intoxication with a high lethality. Up to now there is not a successful treatment for it. The purpose of this study was to determine if a conjugated treatment with NAcetylcysteine; A, C, and E vitamins, Propranolol, Colchicine and Furosemide increased the survival of ten paraquat intoxicated patients attended at the San Vicente de Paul University Hospital in Medellín, Colombia, based on the predicted probability of survival, Paraquat plasmatic concentration and clinical assessment. Six patients died because of their intoxication severity, three of them due to multisystemic organic failure, and three from acute respiratory failure. The results had statistical significance, showing a direct proportion between the high plasma levels of paraquat and mortality; and the fact that those with a multiorganic involvement died, despite their low Paraquat plasma levels. Based on clinical data it is possible to conclude that the treatment is useful only for patients with mild to moderate intoxication; there is not an exact correlation between the clinical features and the Paraquat plasma levels; and the clinical features are a very good indicator of the prognosis in Paraquat intoxicated patients. Further experimental and clinical trials are needed.