[Serum benzodiazepine research by the immunoenzymatic method in emergency toxicology: test interpretation aids]. / Recherche sérique des benzodiazépines par méthode immunoenzymatique en toxicologie d'urgence: aide à l'interprétation.

The analyst in toxicology is daily confronted with blood benzodiazepine research. The sensitivity of the immunoenzyme technique initially designed for urine testing has been improved. Nevertheless some discrepancies persist between clinical and biological observation. This work based on kinetic characteristics of benzodiazepine and analytical sensitivity indicates drug quantities which should be ingested to have a positive test. These quantities are computed for a man and a woman of average weight of 70 kg and 50 kg and for a child weighing 13 kg (about three years old). They are then compared to quantities usually considered as toxic. Nevertheless, these values have to be adapted on a case to case basis. As a general observation, analytical sensitivities for benzodiazepine are variable but the immunoenzyme technique ensures a good covering of real toxic quantities of the drug. Flunitrazepam is the one which has the worst covering probability.

Acute paraquat poisoning: increased toxicity in one case with high alcohol intake.

Human paraquat poisoning from accidental or intentional ingestion is very often fatal. According to the amount of paraquat involved, death can occur within hours or weeks following ingestion. The inefficacy of the various treatments undertaken have led to determine prognostic factors based upon the evolution of plasma and urine paraquat concentrations or of usual biochemical parameters. We report one case of acute poisoning which, although the ingested dose of paraquat was not massive (< 50 mg/kg-1) and the severity indices were in favour of a delayed fatal outcome, has ended in an early death. The high blood alcohol level of the patient (3.34 g l-1) seems to be the main cause of the precocity of this death (86th hour).