What was the incidence of hepatotoxicity in patients with “massive” acetaminophen overdose treated with standard dose IV N-acetylcysteine?
24%. A retrospective study of acetaminophen exposures reported to a regional poison center identified 104 cases of massive overdose (4-hour level > 300 mcg/mL). Only 4% of patients receiving treatment within 8 hours of overdose developed hepatotoxicity compared to 35% of patients receiving treatment more than 8 hours after ingestion.
Downs JW, et al. Clinical outcome of massive acetaminophen overdose treated with standard-dose N-acetylcysteine. Clin Toxicol (Phila) 2021, DOI: 10.1080/15563650.2021.1887493
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