Clinical observation of acute glyphosate intoxication / 대한내과학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Although glyphosate, organophosphorus herbicide, has been used extensively in agricultural area, no clinical data of acute poisoning have been reported in Korea. The current study evaluated clinical characteristics of acute intoxication by glyphosate. METHODS: We retrospectively collect and analysed the clinical data of 16 acute glyphosate poisoned patients admitted to the department of internal medicine, Soonchunhyang University Chunan hospital from January 1999 through June 2000. RESULTS: 1) Thirteen of sixteen poisoning were male and mean age was 44.2 year-old. 2) The main cause of glyphosate ingestion was suicide intent (12 cases, 75%), and clinical severity was divided into 3 categories mild (14 cases), moderate (1 case) and severe (1 case). 3) Nausea and vomiting were the most frequent clinical features (each 6 cases) and dyspnea (4 cases), cough (3 cases), sputum (3 cases) and sore throat (3 cases) were followed. Leucocytosis, hepatotoxicity, anemia, hypoxia and renal toxicity were observed in 9,8,5,6 and 3 cases, respectively. 4) No fatal case and severe complication, except 1 aspiration pneumonia and 1 acute respiratory failure, were observed in acute glyphosate poisonings. CONCLUSION: Our data supported that acute glyphosate poisoning dose not result in fatal in humans even after intentional ingestion of glyphosate.