Paraquat Poisoning

Abstract

A 49-year-old man who ingested paraquat developed acute renal failure. Treatment with intravenous fluids and mannitol increased urine flow, solute clearance, and paraquat excretion, as serum creatinine fell from 11.6 to 1.2 mg/100 ml. Urinary excretion was more efficacious than peritoneal dialysis in removing paraquat. Although pleural effusions developed as a consequence of the poisoning, pulmonary function tests showed no significant abnormality, and effusions subsided by the time of discharge. The outcome of this patient demonstrates that recovery from paraquat poisoning may occur despite acute renal failure and evidence of pulmonary injury. Before paraquat is completely removed from the body, oxygen therapy may itself carry increased risk of lung injury.