Table 2.
Clinical characteristics and outcomes in paraquat poisoning (n=21)
| Variable | Total (n=21) | Survivors (n=7) | Nonsurvivors (n=14) | P value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baseline demographics | ||||
| Male, n (%) | 16 (76.2) | 5 (71.4) | 11 (78.6) | 0.717 |
| Age, year | 48.9±18.4 | 44.3±19.1 | 51.1±18.4 | 0.435 |
| Diabetes mellitus, n (%) | 3 (14.3) | 2 (28.6) | 1 (7.1) | 0.247 |
| Hypertension, n (%) | 7 (33.3) | 3 (42.9) | 4 (28.6) | 0.638 |
| Time to hospital, hours | 11.3±24.1 | 4.9±6.8 | 14.7±29.4 | 0.399 |
| Suicide attempt, n (%) | 17 (81.0) | 6 (85.7) | 11 (78.6) | 0.767 |
| Medical complications | ||||
| Cardiovascular | ||||
| QTc, msec | 457.3±40.8 | 445.8±49 | 465.6±35.4 | 0.434 |
| Shock, n (%) | 13 (61.9) | 0 (0) | 13 (92.9) | <0.001*** |
| Respiratory | ||||
| Acute respiratory distress syndrome, n (%) | 5 (23.8) | 0 (0) | 5 (35.7) | 0.123 |
| Pneumomediastinum, n (%) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 1.000 |
| Acute respiratory failure, n (%) | 14 (66.7) | 0 (0) | 14 (100) | <0.001*** |
| Gastrointestinal | ||||
| Gastrointestinal tract bleeding, n (%) | 7 (33.3) | 2 (28.6) | 5 (35.7) | 1.000 |
| Acute pancreatitis, n (%) | 1 (4.8) | 0 (0) | 1 (7.1) | 1.000 |
| Renal | ||||
| Acute kidney injury, n (%) | 17 (81.0) | 5 (71.4) | 12 (85.7) | 0.574 |
| Neurological | ||||
| Glasgow coma scale score | 14.6±1.2 | 15±0 | 14.4±1.4 | 0.108 |
| Seizure, n (%) | 1 (4.8) | 0 (0) | 1 (7.1) | 1.000 |
| Infection | ||||
| Aspiration pneumonia, n (%) | 2 (9.5) | 0 (0) | 2 (14.3) | 0.533 |
| Urinary tract infection, n (%) | 4 (19.0) | 2 (28.6) | 2 (14.3) | 0.574 |
| Laboratory | ||||
| Blood paraquat, mg/L | 4.0±3.8 | 0.8±0.8 | 5.6±3.8 | 0.004** |
| Severity index of paraquat poisoning score, mg hour/L | 9.7±10.0 | 1.5±1.0 | 14.1±9.9 | 0.004** |
| Blood gas analysis | ||||
| Nadir partial pressure of oxygen, mm Hg | 60.5±36.1 | 70.7±13.1 | 54.1±44.7 | 0.359 |
| Peak partial pressure of carbon dioxide, mm Hg | 33.1±6.0 | 35.5±3.9 | 31.6±6.7 | 0.190 |
| Peak alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient, mm Hg | 90.9±102.0 | 34.7±9.1 | 126.7±118.4 | 0.028* |
| Hemogram | ||||
| Hemoglobin, g/dL | 15.6±1.7 | 15.5±2.1 | 15.6±1.6 | 0.924 |
| White blood cell count/uL | 14119.1±6035.2 | 10600±4831.5 | 15878.6±5938.0 | 0.046* |
| Platelet count, 103/mL | 244.6±57.9 | 259.4±58.2 | 237.2±58.4 | 0.421 |
| Biochemistry | ||||
| Peak urea nitrogen, mg/dL | 47.8±24.5 | 42.3±23.7 | 51.6±25.4 | 0.456 |
| Peak creatinine, mg/dL | 2.5±1.7 | 2.1±1.4 | 2.7±1.9 | 0.506 |
| Peak aspartate transaminase, U/L | 153±290.2 | 60.5±29.3 | 245.5±404.9 | 0.290 |
| Peak alanine aminotransferase, U/L | 151.8±451.3 | 79.4±58.0 | 187.9±554.6 | 0.616 |
| Peak total bilirubin, mg/dL | 1.9±1.6 | 1.0±0.6 | 2.6±1.8 | 0.138 |
| Treatment | ||||
| Gastric lavage, n (%) | 17 (81.0) | 6 (85.7) | 11 (78.6) | 1.000 |
| Active charcoal and magnesium citrate, n (%) | 17 (81.0) | 6 (85.7) | 11 (78.6) | 1.000 |
| Charcoal hemoperfusion, n (%) | 20 (95.2) | 7 (100.0) | 13 (92.9) | 1.000 |
| Glucocorticoid and cyclophosphamide pulse therapy, n (%) | 13 (61.9) | 7 (100.0) | 6 (42.9) | 0.018* |
| Duration of hospitalization, day | 13.1±11.8 | 24.0±4.2 | 7.7±10.5 | 0.001** |
Note: QTc corrected QT interval;
*
P<0.05;
**
P<0.01;
***
P<0.001.