Camphor Intoxication Treated by Resin Hemoperfusion

Abstract

POISONING from camphor ingestion has been reported periodically for more than 140 years.¹Morbidity is significant, and 20 deaths have been reported.^1,2Camphor is listed in the Toxicology Rating System as "class 4, very toxic," with a probable human lethal dose in the range of 50 to 500 mg/kg.³It is rapidly absorbed after oral ingestion,⁴and there is no known antidote. Lipid hemodialysis has been the only reported technique for removal of absorbed camphor.⁵In the course of treating a patient who had ingested camphorated oil, hemoperfusion through amberlite resin was used and shown to be a new, effective, and less cumbersome therapeutic modality. <h3>Report of a Case</h3> A 37-year-old man came to the emergency department at 1:30 AM because of abdominal distress. A friend who accompanied him indicated that the patient had ingested part of the contents of a 120-ml bottle that contained