Clinical toxicology : the official journal of the American Academy of Clinical Toxicology and European Association of Poisons Centres and Clinical Toxicologists
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Clin Toxicol (Phila) · Apr 2014
Observational StudyExotic snake bites in the Czech Republic--Epidemiological and clinical aspects during 15-year period (1999-2013).
Only one natural venomous snake-the adder viper-lives in the central European region and its bite is usually associated only with mild course of envenoming. Cases of envenoming caused by exotic snakes among their breeders are clinically more important. ⋯ Bites caused by exotic snakes resulted in serious and life-threatening envenomings in some patients. Early transfer to the Center, antivenom administration, and support of failing organ functions contributed to favorable outcome of victims.
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Clin Toxicol (Phila) · Apr 2014
Observational StudyCastor bean seed ingestions: a state-wide poison control system's experience.
Ingestions of the seed of the castor bean plant (Ricinus communis) carries the risk of toxicity from ricin, a potent inhibitor of protein synthesis. ⋯ In this retrospective review, gastrointestinal symptoms were the most common symptoms described after reported exposures to castor bean seeds. These exposures were not associated with serious morbidity, mortality, or delayed symptoms.
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Clin Toxicol (Phila) · Apr 2014
Case ReportsProlonged altered mental status and bradycardia following pediatric donepezil ingestion.
Donepezil is a centrally-acting, reversible acetylcholinesterase inhibitor that is used in the treatment of Alzheimer disease. Altered mental status, nausea, vomiting, and bradycardia have been reported in therapeutic and supratherapeutic ingestions of donepezil, though pediatric exposures have not been well-described. We report a case of prolonged altered mental status and recurrent bradycardia in a child with a single-pill ingestion of donepezil. ⋯ Even after a single-tablet ingestion, donepezil may cause prolonged altered mental status and bradycardia in young children.
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Clin Toxicol (Phila) · Mar 2014
A retrospective review of isolated gliptin-exposure cases reported to a state poison control system.
The dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors sitagliptin, saxagliptin, and linagliptin are approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in the treatment of type-2 diabetes. Given the limited published information regarding human overdoses to these medications, our goal was to characterize such exposures. ⋯ The majority of gliptin-exposed adult and pediatric/adolescent patients were safely managed at home and when evaluated in a healthcare facility, did not require hospitalization. Intentional self-harm-adult gliptin exposures were managed in a healthcare facility but rarely resulted in hospitalization or serious morbidity at doses up to 18 times the adult therapeutic dose. Additional studies are necessary to determine precise triage guidelines for the management of gliptin overdose.