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Ronald D. Fairshter, MD

Arch Intern Med. 1981;141(9):1121-1123.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

Paraquat (1,1'-dimethyl-4,4'-dipyridilium dichloride) is a commonly used, effective herbicide. When accidentally or intentionally ingested, paraquat is a multisystem poison capable of causing toxicity to the lungs, kidney, liver, brain, heart, and muscle.^1,2 The compound is also corrosive to the mouth and skin^1,2; furthermore, percutaneous absorption of paraquat can result in systemic toxicity.³ Without appropriate treatment, the mortality after ingestion of concentrates of paraquat (29.1% cationic solution) has ranged from 87% to 100%.⁴ Injection of as little as 1 mL subcutaneously has been fatal.⁵

Although paraquat damages many tissues, important clinical toxicity usually involves the lungs and kidneys.^1,2 Renal failure is common after paraquat ingestion and has been a cause of fatalities. However, this renal failure is reversible and can be managed by conventional means. The major respiratory complications of paraquat poisoning are pulmonary edema and fibrosis.^1,2 Pulmonary edema usually appears within the first few days after ingestion; pulmonary fibrosis ordinarily . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

Author Affiliations
Department of Medicine University of California, Irvine 101 City Dr S Orange, CA 92668

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