Abstract

ARANCIBIA ANDRADE, Boris et al. Severe paraquat poisoning presentation of a clinical case. Arch.Boliv.Med. [online]. 2018, vol.30, n.98, pp. 39-47. ISSN 0004-0525.

Paraquat is a bipyridyl herbicide that acts by contact, it is presented in liquid form in concentrations of 20% for agricultural use. Its chemical name is 1 -1 '-dimethyl-4-4-bipyridyl. Paraquat poisoning has a high mortality rate. Severe intoxication is characterized by the involvement of multiple organs, mainly the lungs, kidneys and liver. The lung isthe target organ in paraquat poisoning and respiratory failure with acute pulmonary fibrosis is the most common cause of death. We present a 21-year-old female patient who ingested Paraquat for suicidal purposes. He developed acute renal and hepatic failure and rapidly progressive severe respiratory failure with images consistent with acute pulmonary fibrosis and impaired arterial blood gases. No response to immunosuppressive treatment was observed. He died 18 days after the ingestion. The use of cyclophosphamide associated with glucocorticoids could reduce the risk of death in these patients, although the pathophysiology of respiratory failure is still under study

Keywords : Herbicide; Paraquat; Poisoning; Pulmonary Fibrosis.