Evaluation of clinical parameters in 17 paraquat intoxicated cases

We have experienced 17 cases of paraquat poisoing in the past 7 years. After admission, the patients had been vigorously treated with blood purification (hemodialysis, direct hemoperfusion, and continuous hemofiltration), gastro-intestinal lavage with large amount of fluid, administration of steroids, ascorbic acid, tocopherol and glutatuion. Ten patients, however, died of circulatory failure within first day and remaining 6 patients developed actue cardio-respiratory failure and then finelly died of multiple organ failure until 10th hospital day. Only one case survived. In all dead cases, respiratory dysfunction in 15 patients, renal dysfunctuin in 11, hepatocellular injury in 10, pancreatitis in 9, disseminated intravascular coagulation in 7 were noticed. High mortality in this present study indicates the secerity and poor prognosis of paraquat poisoing in spite of the prompt initiation of above treatment.