Acute cyanide poisoning: a case report with toxicokinetic study.

Cyanide poisoning is a life threatening condition. But specific antidotes exist and can be easily prepared from available substances in hospital. Administration of antidotes will produce methemoglobin, which itself causes hypoxia. Nitrite induced methemoglobin can be extremely dangerous and even lethal. Before administering the antidotes, the diagnosis should be confirmed. Nitrite should not be given if the poisoning is mild or diagnosis is uncertain, to avoid excessive methemoglobin, dosage of sodium nitrite must be adjusted according to hemoglobin level (Table 1). Usage of sodium nitrite and sodium thiosulfate in the recommended doses are safe and effective for cyanide poisoning.

Pattern of enzyme changes in rabbits administered linamarin or potassium cyanide.

Diseases like tropical ataxic neuropathy and endemic goitre have been reported to have definite correlation with a chronic ingestion of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz). The toxicity of cassava has been attributed to its two cyanogenic glycosides, linamarin and lotaustralin. In this study, an attempt has been made to understand the pattern of changes in certain clinically significant enzymes brought about by the chronic administration of sublethal doses of linamarin to rabbits. The profound elevation in rhodanese activity observed in the linamarin and cyanide treated rabbits indicated the attempt of the tissues to detoxify cyanide. That intact linamarin could be hydrolysed in vivo was a significant finding from the study. The mode of toxicity of linamarin was similar to that of cyanide by producing a gradual shift from aerobic to anaerobic metabolism.