Combined initial cyclophosphamide with repeated methylprednisolone pulse therapy for severe paraquat poisoning from dermal exposure

J Toxicol Clin Toxicol. 2003;41(6):877-81. doi: 10.1081/clt-120025356.

Abstract

The article presents a patient with severe paraquat poisoning from dermal exposure, who had chemical bums to more than 10% of his body surface area, serum paraquat level 0.13 microg/mL 60 hr after exposure, and severe hypoxemia (PaO2 41.6 mmHg). The patient was successfully treated with combined initial megadoses of cyclophosphamide (15 mg/kg/day, total 2 days) with repeated methylprednisolone pulse therapy (15 mg/kg/day, total 6 days) and continuous dexamethasone administration (5 mg every 8 hr), and recovered completely without sequelae 3 months later. This treatment deserves further investigation in future clinical trials.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Alcohol Drinking
  • Alkylating Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Burns, Chemical / drug therapy
  • Burns, Chemical / pathology
  • Cyclophosphamide / therapeutic use*
  • Dexamethasone / therapeutic use
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Herbicides / poisoning*
  • Humans
  • Liver Function Tests
  • Male
  • Methylprednisolone / therapeutic use*
  • Paraquat / poisoning*
  • Skin / pathology

Substances

  • Alkylating Agents
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Herbicides
  • Dexamethasone
  • Cyclophosphamide
  • Paraquat
  • Methylprednisolone