Vasodilation and Rehydration in Paraquat Poisoning

Elimination of Paraquat

“…Patients poisoned with paraquat are always dehydrated to some extent (Webb & Leopod, 1983;Williams et al , 1984) because of gastrointestinal fluid losses; paraquat may also cause peripheral vasodilatation (Webb & Leopold, 1983). For these reasons, in the early stages of renal failure there is a functional component.…”

Preventive effect of taurine against acute paraquat intoxication in beagles.

“…Finally, in PQ intoxication, many acutely affected human patients suffer from vascular collapse and loss of fluid from vessels into the interstitial space, often leading to death from hypovolemia, with or without renal failure (14,15). The present results suggest that continuous taurine infusion may be able to protect against hypovolemic shock.…”

A case of severe paraquat poisoning treated by continuous hemodiafiltration without sequelae

“…When a large amount is ingested, the blood concentration of paraquat peaks within 1–2 h and is distributed to all major organs. It is excreted via the kidneys, with 80%–90% being excreted within the first 6 h and almost 100% within 24 h. 3 …”

“…When a large amount is ingested, the blood concentration of paraquat peaks within 1-2 h and is distributed to all major organs. It is excreted via the kidneys, with 80%-90% being excreted within the first 6 h and almost 100% within 24 h. 3 In the lungs, paraquat is taken up by the adenosine triphosphate-dependent diamine/polyamine transport system, and its concentration reaches 10-15 times that in the blood. Paraquat is reduced by NADPH (reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate) in the body.…”

“…6 In the acute phase, death by paraquat is caused by distributive shock due to peripheral vasodilation. 3 In the subacute stage, the cause is visceral dysfunction centered around the kidneys and lungs. Renal dysfunction may be reversible, as was observed in the present case.…”