Acute poisoning of copper sulfate: a case report and review literature

Abstract

Background Copper sulfate is a bright blue crystal used primarily for agricultural purposes, as a pesticide, disinfectant, feed, and soil additive. Acute volunteer poisoning of copper sulfate is not common in the world and in Iran. Case presentation We reported the case of a 15-year-old girl who presented to the emergency department after ingestion of an unknown amount of copper sulfate following a struggle at school. She had become acquainted with the toxic compound through school textbooks. On admission to the hospital, she had abdominal pain and a sore throat with a normal serum copper level. The patient stated that she had three episodes of bluish vomiting. She underwent symptomatic treatment and was monitored for 3 days. The outcome was favorable, and she had no signs and symptoms of organ failure. Conclusions As a result, copper sulfate poisoning depending on the consumed dose can be mild or very severe with a high mortality rate. The authors discuss the various pathogenesis and treatments of this rare poisoning by reviewing the available literature.

Acute Copper Sulfate Poisoning: a case report

“…Such as hepatic and gastrointestinal effects, acute renal failure, cardiovascular events, methaemoglobinaemia, rhabdomyolysis. 8 A case report was published in March 2009 a case of accidental copper Sulfate poisoning developed renal failure, intravascular haemolysis where the patient was treated with dimercaprol, penicillamine and peritoneal dialysis 9 . Copper plays a vitalrole in protecting cells against oxidative stress as it acts aco-factor for oxidative enzymesincludingperoxidase, catalase, glucose-6 phosphate dehydrogenase,glutathionereductase andcytochromeoxidase.…”

“…2 Copper (II) sulfate is a large, bright blue crystal containing five water molecules (CuSO 4 '"5H 2 O) and is also named blue vitriol or blue stone which is a salt containing copper 2+ as the metal ion, created by treating cupric oxide with sulfuric acid. Copper sulfate was used in burn wound debridement until cases of systemiccopper poisoning were reported 3 . Copper damages the cell membranes of the tissue by making them swollen and causes cell death.…”

A fatal case of acute copper sulphate poisoning presenting with methaemoglobinemia and intravascular haemolysis: a case report

“…4 Haemodialysis or haemofiltration is ineffective in removing copper 5 due to early binding to plasma protein and rapid storage in liver, muscles and erythrocytes. 22…”

Deadly excess copper

“…On the second to third day, the liver starts to fail due to mitochondrial dysfunction, which is followed by kidney failure on the third to fourth day [ 175 ]. Kidney damage is triggered by a combination of direct copper toxicity on the proximal tube, inducing necrosis and pre-renal damage due to dehydration (caused by vomiting and diarrhea before) and haemolysis [ 5 , 176 ]. In addition, liver damage may lead to the hepatorenal syndrome, that has a high mortality rate if not diagnosed early [ 177 ].…”