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Improved survival in severe paraquat poisoning with repeated pulse therapy of cyclophosphamide and steroids

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Abstract

Purpose

To clarify the efficacy of repeated methylprednisolone (MP) and cyclophosphamide (CP) pulse therapy and daily dexamethasone (DEX) therapy in patients with severe paraquat (PQ) poisoning.

Methods

A total of 111 patients with severe PQ poisoning and dark-blue color in urine tests within 24 h of intoxication were included prospectively. The control group consisted of 52 patients who were admitted between 1998 and 2001 and who received high doses of CP (2 mg/kg per day) and DEX (5 mg every 6 h) for 14 days. The study group consisted of 59 patients who were admitted from 2002 to 2007 and who received initial MP (1 g) for 3 days and CP (15 mg/kg per day) for 2 days, followed by DEX (5 mg every 6 h) until a PaO2 of >80 mmHg had been achieved, or treated with repeated 1 g MP for 3 days and 1 g CP for 1 day if the PaO2 was <60 mmHg.

Results

There were no differences between the two groups with regard to baseline data and plasma PQ levels. The study group patients had a lower mortality rate (39/59, 66%) than the control group patients (48/52, 92%; P = 0.003, log-rank test). Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that the repeated pulse therapy was correlated with decreased hazard ratios (HR) for all-cause mortality (HR = 0.50, 95% CI 0.31–0.80; P = 0.004) and death from lung fibrosis-related hypoxemia (HR = 0.10, 95% CI 0.04–0.25; P < 0.001) in severely PQ-intoxicated patients.

Conclusion

Repeated pulses of CP and MP, rather than high doses of CP and DEX, may result in a lower mortality rate in patients with severe PQ poisoning.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nephrology, Division of Clinical Toxicology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, 199, Tung-Hwa North Road, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC

    Ja-Liang Lin, Dan-Tzu Lin-Tan, Kuan-Hsing Chen, Wen-Hung Huang, Ching-Wei Hsu, Hsiang-Hao Hsu & Tzung-Hai Yen

  2. Lin-Kou Medical Center, Chang Gung University and School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC

    Ja-Liang Lin, Dan-Tzu Lin-Tan, Kuan-Hsing Chen, Wen-Hung Huang, Ching-Wei Hsu, Hsiang-Hao Hsu & Tzung-Hai Yen

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  1. Ja-Liang Lin
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  2. Dan-Tzu Lin-Tan
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Correspondence to Ja-Liang Lin.

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Lin, JL., Lin-Tan, DT., Chen, KH. et al. Improved survival in severe paraquat poisoning with repeated pulse therapy of cyclophosphamide and steroids. Intensive Care Med 37, 1006–1013 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00134-010-2127-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00134-010-2127-7

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