N-Acetyl Cysteine in the Management of Rodenticide Consumption — Life Saving?
Background and Aim of Study: Rodenticide is a commonly ingested poison in India. Many rodenticides contain hepatotoxic agents and can cause acute liver failure (ALF). There is no antidote for rodenticide poison, and consumption is often fatal. The Role of N acetyl cysteine (NAC) in acetaminophen...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
JCDR Research and Publications Private Limited
2015-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://jcdr.net/articles/PDF/5455/11484_CE(RA1)_F(T)_PF1(PAK)_PFA(AK)_PF2(PAG).pdf |
| Summary: | Background and Aim of Study: Rodenticide is a commonly
ingested poison in India. Many rodenticides contain hepatotoxic
agents and can cause acute liver failure (ALF). There is no antidote
for rodenticide poison, and consumption is often fatal. The Role
of N acetyl cysteine (NAC) in acetaminophen induced ALF is well
established. Additionally some studies have shown that it may
be useful in non-acetaminophen induced ALF also. Cases with
ALF secondary to suicidal rodenticide consumption have been
reported, and some reports show that NAC is beneficial in these
cases.
Our study was a retrospective analysis of patients admitted with
rodenticide consumption, comparing outcomes in those receiving
standard of care management and those who were treated with
NAC also.
Materials and Methods: Case sheets of all inpatients of a tertiary
medical college hospital between January 2010 and December
2012 admitted with an alleged history of rodenticide consumption
were surveyed and data was extracted and analysed.
Statistical Analysis: Patients were analysed with respect to
age, sex, mode of presentation, interval between consumption of
rodenticide and starting NAC; the outcome in patients treated with
acetylcysteine was compared to outcomes in those not treated
with acetylcysteine
Results: A total of 100 patients were studied out of which 18 died.
Sixteen of the deaths were in patients who had not been treated
with NAC. We found that patients who had received NAC had lower
mortality, lower peak values of AST/ALT, and shorter hospital stay.
Conclusion: NAC may have a role in the management of ALF
associated with rodenticide consumption. |
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| ISSN: | 2249-782X 0973-709X |