1/12. Fatal multi-organ failure after suicidal overdose with MDMA, 'ecstasy': case report and review of the literature.A 53-year-old prisoner died of multiorgan failure after a suicidal overdose with 3,4-methylenedeoxymethamphetamine (MDMA, 'Ecstasy'). Twelve hours after ingestion of MDMA, the patient became severely hyperthermic (107.2 degrees F) with evidence of rhabdomyolysis. He subsequently developed acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC) and acute renal failure. At autopsy, plasma concentration of MDMA was 3.05 mg/L. This case shows that MDMA is still abused in our community and clinicians should know the symptoms of MDMA intoxication. In particular, MDMA should be considered when patients have symptoms or signs of increased sympathetic activity. The pathophysiology and treatment of MDMA-induced hyperthermia are discussed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = intoxication (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/12. A case of intoxication after a bite by Latrodectus tredecimguttatus.A case of intoxication in Southern bulgaria after a bite from the venomous spider Latrodectus tredecimguttatus is reported. The development of both local (acute pain, itching erythema, paraesthesiae in the area of the bite) and general (weakness, headache, dizziness, fever, vomiting, myalgia, muscle cramps) symptoms, which passed relatively easily, is described. The clinical picture and treatment are briefly commented on.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 5keywords = intoxication (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/12. Salbutamol intoxication: is salbutamol a drug-inducing fever? A case report and treatment strategy.A four-year-old female with salbutamol intoxication was referred to our paediatric emergency medicine unit, due to agitation, tremulousness, sinus tachycardia, mild hypokalaemia and hyperglycaemia. On admission the child was agitated and had a noticeable tremor, an axillary temperature of 38 degrees C and a pulse rate of 185 beats/min. She had no identifiable focus of infection on physical examination to explain her fever. gastric lavage, activated charcoal, intravenous hydration and electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring were performed. Her plasma potassium level, blood sugar and QT interval were closely monitored during her hospital stay. Her fever, tachycardia and serum potassium and glucose levels returned to normal and she was discharged in good condition 24 h after admission. The difference of this case from prior cases of salbutamol intoxication was the observation of fever in the absence of evidence of infection. Since the cause of fever was not a reaction to the medication used in the treatment or related to environmental factors, it is assumed that salbutamol is a fever-inducing drug.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 6keywords = intoxication (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/12. The application of immunohistochemical findings in the diagnosis in methamphetamine-related death-two forensic autopsy cases-.Forensic autopsy cases detecting methamphetamine (MA) are usually diagnosed according to its toxicological concentration. It has been reported that the lethal blood concentration of MA is 4.48 microg/ml (3.0 micromol/dl). We autopsied two MA-detected cadavers, and immunohistochemical staining was performed on the skeletal muscle with an anti-myoglobin antibody, and on the kidney with an anti-the 70 kDa heat shock protein (HSP70) antibody. One case showed a high rectal temperature (40 degrees C). The toxicological examination revealed 0.75 microg/ml of MA in the blood, and 16.8 microg/ml in the urine. myoglobin was negative and HSP70 was positive in the kidney immunohistochemically. From the toxicological and immunohistochemical findings, it was considered that the subject died of hyperthermia and acidosis caused by muscular hyperactivity. In another case, the autopsy revealed highly congested lungs, with dark-red bloody fluid and foam in the trachea and bronchus. MA (17.0 microg/ml) was detected in the blood. HSP70 was negative and myoglobin was positive immunohistochemically. It was thought that the subject died of acute MA intoxication based on the high MA concentration, although rhabdomyolysis was suspected. It is suggested that myoglobin and HSP70 immunostaining are useful to diagnose MA poisoning.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = intoxication (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/12. movement disorders possibly induced by traditional chinese herbs.The authors describe the neurological presentation and CT/MRI findings in 4 patients exposed to overdoses of decoctions of two different Chinese herbs. Case 1, a 15-year-old boy, ingested herba serissae along with the safe-dosage salvia miltiorrhiza for treating a left renal stone. sophora subprostrata root (SSR) was primarily used for treating three other diseases: viral B hepatitis in case 2, a 9-year-old boy; infection of the throat and a low fever in case 3, a 11-year-old girl, and a minor facial infection in case 4, a 12-year-old boy. All patients showed complex neurological manifestations primarily including convulsions, mental changes and dystonia syndromes. Their CT and/or MRI revealed abnormal density lesions in the striatum and globus pallidus bilaterally. They excluded the possibility of Wilson's disease in each of the 4 patients and suggested that overdosage of SSR and herba serissae could cause intoxications of the central nervous system, particularly damage to the basal ganglia. Chemically, coumarin (case 1) and matrine and oxymatrine (cases 2-4) in the two medicinal herbs are suggested to be possibly responsible for the morbidity.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = intoxication (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/12. Paramethoxyamphetamine (PMA) poisoning; a 'party drug' with lethal effects.Among young people in norway the recreational use of amphetamine derivatives seems to be increasing. Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), known as ecstasy, is the dominant substance, having both stimulant and psychedelic properties. Depending on the illegal source of these so-called 'party drugs' the content and purity can vary. This case report describes the first lethal case of paramethoxyamphetamine (PMA) and paramethoxymethamphetamine (PMMA) intoxication reported in norway. A 16-year-old male was admitted to a local hospital in a coma with seizures and hyperthermia after he had been found undressed and barefooted in a local forest (temperature 2 degrees C). He was intubated and given supportive care. blood chemistry revealed hypoglycaemia, hypocalcaemia and hyperkalaemia. Shortly after transfer to the central hospital he developed bradycardia with continuous seizures and asystole. Adverse effects of MDMA are well described and include serotonergic and sympathomimetic symptoms with hyperthermia, coagulopathy, rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney and liver failure. case reports of PMA deaths collectively suggest PMA to be more toxic than MDMA. A delayed effect after intake of PMA compared with MDMA can lead to increased intake. Hypoglycaemia and hyperkalaemia may be specific to PMA poisoning. Increased thermo genesis will result in a search for cooling, which explains the attempt to undress and a desire to submerge in water. In a cool climate this behaviour itself can be lethal. Measures to treat seizures, hypoglycaemia, electrolyte anomalies and hyperthermia are the therapeutic goals. No specific treatment is available.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = intoxication (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/12. fever, hyperdynamic shock, and multiple-system organ failure. A pseudo-sepsis syndrome associated with chronic salicylate intoxication.OBJECTIVE: To describe a sepsis-like syndrome associated with chronic salicylate intoxication. DESIGN: Retrospective clinical study. SETTING: University-affiliated county hospital. patients: Five patients who became accidentally intoxicated while ingesting salicylates on a long-term daily basis. RESULTS OF DATA ANALYSIS: All five salicylate-intoxicated patients had clinical and laboratory features that were highly suggestive of sepsis, but no bacteriologic or pathologic evidence of infection could be documented. Features included fever, leukocytosis with increased band forms, hypotension with a reduced SVR and multiple system organ failure (ARDS, encephalopathy, renal failure, and DIC). A diagnosis of salicylate intoxication was made at the time of admission to the hospital in only one case. In the other four cases, the presumptive diagnosis was sepsis; a correct diagnosis of salicylate intoxication was not established until between 16 h and 10 days after admission in these four cases. Two patients died, one patient required permanent hemodialysis, and two patients recovered fully only after prolonged and complicated hospitalizations. The pathogenesis of this syndrome is uncertain. In two cases, serum levels of TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta and IL-6 were measured by ELISA. In both cases serum IL-6 was markedly increased, and in one case serum TNF-alpha was also elevated. CONCLUSION: Occult salicylate intoxication should be considered when apparent sepsis syndrome occurs without a readily easily identifiable source of infection.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 8keywords = intoxication (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/12. Substance abuse: clinical identification and management.Substance abuse is a significant health problem in the adolescent population. Prevention is a formidable challenge, but attempts at discouraging experimentation in early adolescence and the promotion of healthy adult role models may be effective strategies. Questions that may elicit a history suggestive of abuse should be a routine part of the adolescent medical history. Pediatricians should be familiar with the important clinical findings resulting from intoxication with the various substances of abuse and should be able to recognize the "telltale" signs of abuse. Effective management is based on attention to the basics of life support, careful attention to the physical findings, and judicious use of specific therapeutic agents. Above all, a compassionate attitude should prevail if acute-phase recovery and long-term rehabilitation are to be successful.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = intoxication (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/12. Chronic vitamin a intoxication. A multisystem disease that could reach epidemic proportions.Two patients seen in a six-month period had a diffuse, multisystem disorder characterized by edema of the extremities and face, rash, bone pain and tenderness, symptoms of increased intracranial pressure, and hypercalcemia. Both had been receiving extraordinarily high doses of vitamin a for some time. serum vitamin a concentrations were markedly elevated, and serum vitamin d concentrations were normal. The history of excessive vitamin administration was only elicited following the detection of hypercalcemia. This is a potential complication of the administration of unregulated food supplements, stressing the need for complete dietary histories in the evaluation of multisystem disorders, with or without hypercalcemia.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 4keywords = intoxication (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/12. Exertional heat stroke induced by amphetamine analogues. Does dantrolene have a place?There are increasing numbers of patients admitted to hospital as a result of ingesting amphetamine-like drugs. The most severe cases exhibit hyperthermia, rhabdomyolysis, coagulopathy and renal failure. We describe six such patients with varying severity of intoxication, and have reviewed the recent literature with particular reference to the use of dantrolene. One of our patients died but the others all survived. There is little evidence that dantrolene influenced the outcome in patients reported to date. We believe that a controlled trial should be carried out in amphetamine-related hyperthermia before the use of dantrolene becomes widespread.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = intoxication (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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