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Accidental oral poisoning caused by RDX (cyclonite): a report of 5 cases.
- Source :
-
Journal of intensive care medicine [J Intensive Care Med] 2003 Jan-Feb; Vol. 18 (1), pp. 42-6. - Publication Year :
- 2003
-
Abstract
- The explosive RDX (hexogen, cyclonite) is usually used for the production of C-4 explosive. The rare occurrence of accidental and intentional RDX intoxications has been reported during manufacturing process or in wartime. In this article, the authors report 5 cases of accidental oral RDX poisoning. On admission, observed signs and symptoms included repetitive generalized tonic-clonic convulsions, postictal coma, lethargy, confusion, hyperreflexia, postictal amnesia, nausea, vomiting, abdominal tenderness, sinusal tachycardia, dysrhythmia with frequent ventricular premature beats, generalized muscle spasms, and myoclonus. Leukocytosis, mild anemia, methemoglobinemia, elevated levels of blood glucose, serum aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, lactic dehydrogenase, creatine phosphokinase, amilase, hypokalemia, metabolic acidosis, proteinuria, glucosuria, and myoglobinuria were also noted. Plasma RDX concentrations were 268 to 969 ng/mL at 3 hours of ingestion. For management, supportive and symptomatic measures were taken. Whole-bowel irrigation might have been an effective therapeutic procedure due to probable slow gastrointestinal absorption of RDX. Three patients who developed severe metabolic acidosis underwent urgent hemodialysis. All patients were discharged 7 to 21 days after admission without any sequelae. Plasma RDX levels were strongly correlated with the clinical and laboratory manifestations. The available toxicological data on this rare accidental poisoning are reviewed in light of the literature.
- Subjects :
- Accidents, Occupational
Acidosis chemically induced
Adult
Amnesia, Anterograde chemically induced
Anemia chemically induced
Arrhythmias, Cardiac chemically induced
Coma chemically induced
Confusion chemically induced
Critical Care methods
Emergency Treatment methods
Epilepsy, Tonic-Clonic chemically induced
Gastric Lavage
Humans
Leukocytosis chemically induced
Male
Military Medicine methods
Nausea chemically induced
Poisoning diagnosis
Poisoning metabolism
Poisoning therapy
Reflex, Abnormal drug effects
Renal Dialysis
Triazines blood
Turkey
Vomiting chemically induced
Military Personnel
Triazines poisoning
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0885-0666
- Volume :
- 18
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Journal of intensive care medicine
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 15189666
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1177/0885066602239123