Citation

Hernández AF, Schiaffino S, Ballesteros JL, Gil F, Pla A, Villanueva E. Vet. Hum. Toxico. 1998; 40(6): 344-345.

Affiliation

Department of Legal Medicine and Toxicology Service, University Hospital, University of Granada School of Medicine, Spain.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1998, American College of Veterinary Toxicologists)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

9830695

Abstract

A 32-y-old woman was admitted to Granada University Hospital for attempted suicide by ingestion of an ant-killer containing 10% sodium arsenate and 5% pyrethrins. Neither gastrointestinal distress nor hepatic, renal, or neurologic disturbances were clinically observed. However, the presence of toxic levels of arsenic (14 mg/L) was confirmed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry in a sample of urine taken about 12 h after poisoning. An uneventful clinical course was observed, and the patient was discharged after 6 days upon her request. Long-term follow-up was unavailable. From a Medline search over the years 1985-1998 only one similar report also dealing with sodium arsenate was found. Different pathogenic hypotheses are discussed in the light of the clinical data.

Language: en