Caracterización de la ingestión por sobredosis de paracetamol: Reporte de un centro de información toxicológica chileno / Characterization of paracetamol overdose: Report of a poison information center in Chile

Background: Paracetamol (acetaminophen) is an analgesic and antipyretic drug widely used across the world. Its ingestion is one of the most common causes of drug overdose. In the United States is the first cause of acute hepatitis in adults. Aim: To describe the epidemiological profile of paracetamol overdose in Chile. Material and Methods: Cross sectional retrospective study that included all the phone call inquiries received at the Poison Control Center of the Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile (CITUC) during 2009. Results: Nine hundred fifty nine inquiries involving acute paracetamol exposures were received. Women represented a 63.1% of the cases. Half of the cases were suicide attempts, of which 74.8% were women. Accidental exposures occurred mainly in children. In 29.3% of the patients, the exposure was considered to involve a hepatotoxic dose. Women had 2.7 times the risk of men to ingest a toxic dose of paracetamol with suicidal purpose (Odds ratio (OR) = 2.7; 95% confidence interval (Cl): 2.1-3.6; p < 0.001). Adolescents had 3.4 times the risk of the general consultants (OR: 3.4; 95% Cl: 2.4-4.7; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Paracetamol overdose is common in Chile. Authorities should carry out preventive measures. Antidotes and the capacity to measure plasma levels of paracetamol should be available in healthcare centers.

Acetaminophen overdose in Jamaica / Sobredosis de acetaminofén en Jamaica

Acetaminophen is a dose dependent hepatotoxin which is frequently associated with intentional self-harm. Forty-nine cases of parasuicide attempts involving paracetamol only or in combination with another drug were treated at the UHWI, Jamaica, between 1994-2004. The majority were women (84%) and the mean age was 23 years. Acetaminophen was the only agent ingested in 71% of cases; 29% involved an additional drug. Patients presented an average of 6.5 hours after ingestion (range 1-45 hours). Serum transaminases were elevated in 18% of cases and N-acetylcysteine (NAC) therapy given in 55%. The mean duration of hospitalization was three days. One patient developed liver failure and there were no deaths. Education of the public and medical profession is needed to increase awareness of the potential toxic effects of acetaminophen overdose. N-acetylcysteine therapy should be given early in suspected cases.

El acetaminofén es una hepatotoxina dosis-dependiente, frecuentemente asociada con intenciones auto-destructivas. Cuarenta y nueve casos de intentos parasuicidas que involucraban paracetamol o combinación con otra droga, fueron tratados en el UHWI, Jamaica, entre 1994-2004. En la mayoría de los casos se trataba de mujeres (84%) y la edad promedio fue 23 años. El acetaminofén fue el único agente ingerido en 71% de los casos; 29% involucraron un medicamento adicional. Las transaminasas en suero fueron elevadas en 18% de los casos y se aplicó terapia de N-acetilcisteína en el 55% de los casos. La duración promedio de hospitalización fue de tres días. Uno de los pacientes tuvo un fallo hepático y no hubo muertes. Se requiere la educación del público y la profesión médica a fin de aumentar la conciencia sobre los efectos tóxicos potenciales de la sobredosis de acetaminofén. La terapia con N-acetilcisteína (NAC) debe aplicarse tan pronto como el caso despierte sospecha.

Acute liver failure caused by hepatitis E virus and paracetamol.

Acute liver failure is characterized by severe and sudden liver cell dysfunction leading to hepatic encephalopathy and hepatic coagulopathy in a person without history of liver disease in the past. This catastrophic illness can rapidly progress to coma and death from cerebral edema and multi organ dysfunction. It carries a high mortality rate if liver transplantation is not carried out. In West, paracetamol is the main cause of hepatotoxicity whereas in the East viral hepatitis tops the list. This report describes a case of acute liver failure in which probably both the agents were involved. The patient recovered with antidote therapy and maximum supportive care.

Fulminant hepatic failure and paracetamol overuse with therapeutic intent in febrile children.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the risk of fulminant hepatic failure in relation to paracetamol overuse with therapeutic intent in febrile children. METHODS: It was a case control study. Paracetamol ingestion for the current febrile illness was compared between 25 cases of fulminant hepatic failure and 33 hospital age matched controls. RESULTS: Supra-therapeutic doses of paracetamol (mean 145 mg/kg/day) were consumed by all 25 cases compared to none in the control group. Mean paracetamol level in the cases and controls were, respectively, 26.84 mg /dl and 0.051 mg /dl (p< 0.001). The mean duration of paracetamol intake prior to admission in cases was 3. 45 days compared to 1.85 days in the control group. Nineteen, 5 and 3 were, respectively, graded as hepatic encephalopathy grade 1, 2 and 3. All six patients in grade 2 and 3 had hepatomegaly compared to 78% in the grade 1. Four had jaundice and all were in grade 2 or 3. Mean alanine aminotransferase was 2781 U/L None of the randomly selected cases (6) had serological evidence of Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B or Dengue. Three cases died. CONCLUSION: Exposure to multiple supratherapeutic doses of paracetamol is a risk factor to develop fulminant hepatic failure in children with an acute viral like febrile illness.

Paracetamol overdose in suicidal attempt patients.

Twenty one suicidal attempt patients of paracetamol overdose were studied at Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital between 2000-2002. Most of them were females (16 or 76%), students (8 or 38%) and employees (7 or 33%). The average age was 22 years old and the majority of cases were single (18 or 86%) and had problems with their partner (9 or 43%). The number of paracetamol tablets (500 mg/tablet) were ingested between 10-90 tablets. Blood levels of paracetamol were 0.12-8.3 gm/L at 72-2 hours which did not correlate significantly with oral doses. These were caused by vomiting after ingestion of large doses and the efficacy of individual absorption or properties of ingredient and mixed vehicles in each tablet. Nausea and vomiting occurred in all cases. However, a few victims suffered from liver intoxication in the present study, but all of them survived and recovered completely.

Accidental dextropropoxyphene poisoning.

Dextropropoxyphene poisoning is an uncommon accidental poisoning in children. Presentation is similar to narcotic over dosage or poisoning. Convulsions, conduction disturbances, arrhythmias and hypoglycemia are common. Naloxone is the antidote. As it is uncommon and not documented in children in Indian literature we are reporting this case.

Evaluación de la eficacia de la N-acetilcisteina administrada sola o combinada con carbón activado en el tratamiento de la sobredosis por acetaminofén / Evaluation of the efficacy of N-acetylcysteine administered alone or combined with activated carbon in the treatment of acetaminophen overdose

Objetivo. Evaluar comparativamente la eficacia de la N-acetilcisteina (N-AC) administrada como monofármaco o combinada con diálisis gastrointestinal con carbón activado (CA) en el tratamiento de la sobredosis por acetaminofén (ACT). Diseño. Estudio prospectivo observacional de una serie consecutiva de 14 niños. Al grupo A (n=7) se le administró unicamente N-AC, el grupo B (n=7) se le administró N-AC combinada con CA. Se midieron las concentraciones plasmáticas de ACT a las 0.0, 24 y 48 h. Como medida de la eliminación del fármaco se calculó la vida media de eliminación (t ½ ß) y la depuración corporal exógena-no renal (Cl B). Resultados. Grupo A: niveles promediados de acetaminofén plasmático, al inicio y final del tratamiento, 27 µg/mL; t ½ ß 17 h y Cl B 0.640 mL.kg.min. Grupo B: 27 µg/mL y 0.66 µg/mL; t ½ ß 10 h y Cl B 1.092 mL.kg.min. Para las diferencias entre t ½ ß y Cl B, p < 0.05 (ES). Conclusiones. Ambos grupos mostraron una depuración significativa de las concentraciones de ACT con algunas diferencias a favor del tratamiento combinado (grupo B): el porcentaje de eliminación plasmática fue mayor (97.6 porciento vs 85.2 por ciento), la t ½ ß se redujo 42 por ciento y la Cl B se incrementó 70 por ciento. Los resultados sugieren la mayor utilidad de la combinación N-AC más CA en el tratamiento preventivo de la hepatoxicidad por ACT

Paracetamol poisoning in children.

Paracetamol (acetaminophen) has become an antipyretic drug of choice. Due to its widespread use, toxicity secondary to overdose has increased in recent years. Children are especially vulnerable to accidental exposure due to non availability of child proof containers in India. The main clinical features of acute toxicity include anorexia, vomiting, abdominal pain, jaundice, hematuria and metabolic acidoses. Diagnosis is based on history and laboratory findings of acidosis and abnormal liver function tests. N-acetylcysteine is the specific antidote. This article reviews in detail the toxicokinetics, pathophysiology, clinical features and management of paracetamol poisoning in children.