Toxicology International (Formerly Indian Journal of Toxicology)

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Incidence and Outcome of Aluminium Phosphide Poisoning Cases Admitted to the Egyptian National Poisoning Centre


Affiliations
1 Department of Pharmacology, Cairo University, Egypt
2 National Egyptian Center of Environmental and Toxicological Research (NECTR), Cairo University, Egypt
     

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Aluminium Phosphide (ALP) poisoning is one of the major causes of suicidal deaths. It is one of the fatal pesticides. It liberates lethal phosphine gas when it comes in contact either with atmospheric moisture or with hydrochloric acid in the stomach. It causes cellular hypoxia, inhibition of cytochrome c oxidase and formation of highly reactive hydroxyl radicals. The aim of this work was to investigate ALP poisoning-related deaths in the National Egyptian Center of Environmental and Toxicological Research (NECTR), to arouse attention to its use in committing suicide due to its easy availability through the objective data from a sample of acutely poisoned patients admitted to NECTR in Cairo. Management of cases is mainly supportive as there is no specific antidote, causing high mortality rate. Early arrival and proper decontamination, resuscitation, intensive monitoring and supportive therapy may result in good outcome.

Keywords

Aluminium Phosphide (ALP), Blood Lactate Level, Mortality, Phosphine Gas, Prediction.
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  • Incidence and Outcome of Aluminium Phosphide Poisoning Cases Admitted to the Egyptian National Poisoning Centre

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Authors

Eman AM. Abdel Rashid
Department of Pharmacology, Cairo University, Egypt
Nashwa M. El Mahdy
National Egyptian Center of Environmental and Toxicological Research (NECTR), Cairo University, Egypt

Abstract


Aluminium Phosphide (ALP) poisoning is one of the major causes of suicidal deaths. It is one of the fatal pesticides. It liberates lethal phosphine gas when it comes in contact either with atmospheric moisture or with hydrochloric acid in the stomach. It causes cellular hypoxia, inhibition of cytochrome c oxidase and formation of highly reactive hydroxyl radicals. The aim of this work was to investigate ALP poisoning-related deaths in the National Egyptian Center of Environmental and Toxicological Research (NECTR), to arouse attention to its use in committing suicide due to its easy availability through the objective data from a sample of acutely poisoned patients admitted to NECTR in Cairo. Management of cases is mainly supportive as there is no specific antidote, causing high mortality rate. Early arrival and proper decontamination, resuscitation, intensive monitoring and supportive therapy may result in good outcome.

Keywords


Aluminium Phosphide (ALP), Blood Lactate Level, Mortality, Phosphine Gas, Prediction.

References





DOI: https://doi.org/10.18311/ti%2F2018%2Fv25i4%2F23804