Showing posts with label Toxicology. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Toxicology. Show all posts

Tuesday, October 4, 2016

Paracetamol Poisoning: Learning Toxicology


A 42 YF ingested an unknown number of paracetamol tablets,
The following regarding paracetamol toxicity is/are true or false:

1-Histologic recovery lags behind clinical recovery and may take up to three months.

True, fact

2-Acute pancreatitis has been described in Stage 1.

False,
Stage 2

3-It is  suggested to treat with activated charcoal, 1 g/kg (maximum dose 50 g) by mouth for all patients who present within four hours .

True,
From Uptodate

4-Females are probably more protected than males via an increased supply and regeneration of glutathione and greater activity of conjugation enzymes .

False ,

Young children are probably protected via an increased supply and regeneration of glutathione and greater activity of conjugation enzymes 

5-Acute alcohol ingestion is not a risk factor for hepatotoxicity and may even be protective

True, fact
(From Uptodate)

Monday, September 5, 2016

Salicylate Poisoning Mechanism: Learning Toxicology

Salicylates act directly on the respiratory center in the brainstem, causing hyperventilation and respiratory alkalosis.
In addition, salicylates interfere with the citric acid cycle limiting adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production and generating lactate. Due to increased catecholamines and an increased utilization of glucose, fatty acid metabolism increases leading to ketoacidosis.
Finally, salicylates are weak acids and contribute to the acidosis through direct proton donation. These factors contribute to increased ventilation through compensation but would not be expected to cause alkalemia (overcompensation).
Although the metabolic acidosis begins in the earliest stages of salicylate toxicity, the respiratory alkalosis predominates initially, leaving the patient with a respiratory alkalosis, metabolic acidosis, and alkalemia.

Adolescents or adults presenting with respiratory acidosis early after a salicylate overdose likely have a coingested CNS depressants, experience salicylate-induced acute lung injury, or have underlying respiratory disease.

The combination of acute respiratory alkalosis, metabolic acidosis, and acidemia is an ominous finding, indicating a life-threatening salicylate overdose.

Reference: Tintinalli

Lithium Toxicity: Learning Toxicology


A 45ym known with MDP
, on Lithium ,
He took an unknown amount of Lithium to commit suicide .

The following is/are true or false regarding Lithium toxicity :

1-Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, as well as calcium disturbances secondary to hyperparathyroidism, have been reported with lithium poisoning.

True

2-Flattened T waves, prolonged QTc intervals, and bradycardia are common.

False,
Are rare

3-Phenobarbitone is the first line therapy for seizures. 

False.
Benzodiazepine

4-Patients with acute lithium toxicity are at risk for developing nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (NDI)

False
with chronic toxicity

5-Whole bowel irrigation with polyethylene glycol (PEG) solution are not effective in patients with large acute ingestions .

False
Effective

6-Serum lithium concentrations correlate more closely with clinical signs in patients with chronic toxicity

True
For chronic toxicity

7-The syndrome of irreversible lithium effectuated neurotoxicity (SILENT) consists of prolonged neurologic and neuropsychiatric symptoms following lithium toxicity.

True,
Fact

8-Lithium poisoning is  associated with elevations in cardiac biomarkers and  left ventricular dysfunction.

False
Is not

9-Severe lithium intoxication can cause nonconvulsive status epilepticus, and encephalopathy.

True

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