Mortality of paraquat has been reported as high as 74%. What dose has been determined to predict mortality?
Amongst 126 patients included in a study done by Oghabian et al., an ingested dose greater than 2250 mg predicted mortality with 86.2% specificity and 75.7% sensitivity. The mean dose ingested in the study of 2358mg and 36.4% of patients died. Patients who developed respiratory distress, drooling, and abnormal lung sounds had a significantly higher mortality rate than those who did not. (Oghabian Z, Williams J, Mohajeri M, et al. J Res Pharm Pract. 2019 Jul-Sep; 8(3): 129–136. DOI: 10.4103/2319-9644.274162)
Submitted by: Ryan Feldman, PharmD, BCPS on behalf of the Acute and Intensive Care Section
Posted in Question Of The Day