Paraquat toxicity: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 17:37, 17 July 2020

Background

Paraquat is an herbicide that has a rapid and large distribution and can be fatal even with small ingestions. It has a high case-fatality rate (>50%)^[1] which makes it a frequent means of suicide in the developing world, as well as a dangerous accidental occupational exposure.

Paraquat exerts its toxic effects via multiple proposed mechanisms, including lipid peroxidation and generation of reactive oxygen species, direct mitochondrial toxicity, and apoptosis.

Clinical Features

Paraquat Tongue (Credit: wikitox.org)

Gastrointestinal: predominate early
- Paraquat tongue
- Esophageal and gastric erosion
- Nausea and vomiting
Pulmonary: occurs due to distribution to pneumocytes
- Pneumonitis
- Pulmonary fibrosis (delayed)
Multiorgan failure
- Acute renal failure
- Hepatic necrosis
- Myocardial necrosis
- Internal bleeding

Differential Diagnosis

Evaluation

Management

Disposition

External Links

References

↑ Gawaramanna I, Buckley N. Medical management of paraquat ingestion. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2011;72(5):745–757

Authors:

[1] Gawaramanna I, Buckley N. Medical management of paraquat ingestion. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2011;72(5):745–757

[1]

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 ==Background==
 Paraquat is an herbicide that has a rapid and large distribution and can be fatal even with small ingestions. It has a high case-fatality rate (>50%)<ref>Gawaramanna I, Buckley N. Medical management of paraquat ingestion. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2011;72(5):745–757</ref> which makes it a frequent means of suicide in the developing world, as well as a dangerous accidental occupational exposure.
+Paraquat exerts its toxic effects via multiple proposed mechanisms, including lipid peroxidation and generation of reactive oxygen species, direct mitochondrial toxicity, and apoptosis.
 ==Clinical Features==