The Potential Therapeutic Role of Hydroxyethyl Starch and Hydrocortisone in Acute Aluminum Phosphide Poisoning

The Potential Therapeutic Role of Hydroxyethyl Starch and Hydrocortisone in Acute Aluminum Phosphide Poisoning

The Potential Therapeutic Role of Hydroxyethyl Starch and Hydrocortisone in Acute Aluminum Phosphide Poisoning: A Randamized Controlled Clinical Trial

Aluminum phosphide (ALP) is a widely used fumigant due to its efficiency as pesticides. It is available as tablets of Celphos, Alphos or Quickphos which are known as rice tablets. Each tablet weights 3 grams and contains 56% ALP and 44% of aluminum carbonate and paraffin. The incidence of ALP poisoning increased steadily specially in developing countries . ALP poisoning is considered to be one of the major causes of suicidal poisoning owing to its wide accessibility and low cost. However, accidental poisoning may occur during occupational exposure

Aluminum phosphide (ALP) is a widely used fumigant due to its efficiency as pesticides. It is available as tablets of Celphos, Alphos or Quickphos which are known as rice tablets. Each tablet weights 3 grams and contains 56% ALP and 44% of aluminum carbonate and paraffin. The incidence of ALP poisoning increased steadily specially in developing countries . ALP poisoning is considered to be one of the major causes of suicidal poisoning owing to its wide accessibility and low cost. However, accidental poisoning may occur during occupational exposure. Signs and symptoms of acute AlP poisoning include gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, hepatic, renal, and neurologic (1). Ingestion of ALP causes mild gastrointestinal (GIT) manifestations as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, in addition to chest tightness, hypotension, headache and dizziness. In severe cases, GIT hemorrhage, shock, severe metabolic acidosis, cardiac arrhythmia, convulsions and coma may occur. Later, signs of hepatic damage and renal insufficiency may develop. Death usually occurs in 30-70% of cases within the first 24 hours resulting from refractory cardiogenic shock, cardiac arrhythmia, severe hypotension and metabolic acidosis.The main causes of cardiovascular collapse are increase capillary permeability, insufficient systemic vasoconstriction with low ventricular ejection fraction. On autopsy examinations, point to extravasation of fluid into the third space. The management is exclusively supportive as gastric lavage with KMnO4 solution, treatment of hypotension and acidosis in view of the fact that there is no specific antidote available.

received the standard ALP treatment according to TUPTC protocol as follows: patient resuscitation, care of airway, breathing and circulation, gastric decontamination with 2 ampoules sodium bicarbonate (each ampoule 25 ml containing 2.1 gm sodium bicarbonate) followed by activated charcoal in dose of 1 g/Kg orally, adequate hydration, normal saline administration (0.9% Sodium Chloride IV), vasopressors IV infusions, inhalation of 100% oxygen, ranitidine IV, magnesium sulfate IV infusion and other supportive treatment.

Patients will start therapy with Hydroxyethyl starch instead of normal saline (6% hetastarch 600/0.75 in 0.9% sodium chloride) with a dose of 500 cc in 6 hours. Additionally, patient will receive the standard ALP treatment according to TUPTC protocol in the same order of placebo.

Patients will start therapy with combined Hydroxyethyl starch (Voluven®, fresenius kabi, Germany) and hydrocortisone (SOLU-CORTEF 100 mg ampoule) instead of normal saline of normal saline as follow: Hydroxyethyl starch dose is 6% hetastarch 600/0.75 in 0.9% sodium chloride with a dose of 500 cc in 6 hours. Hydrocortisone dose is 200-300 mg /day intravenously until normalization of blood pressure. Additionally, patient will receive the standard ALP treatment according to TUPTC protocol in the same order of placebo.

received the standard ALP treatment according to TUPTC protocol as follows: patient resuscitation, care of airway, breathing and circulation, gastric decontamination with 2 ampoules sodium bicarbonate (each ampoule 25 ml containing 2.1 gm sodium bicarbonate) followed by activated charcoal in dose of 1 g/Kg orally, adequate hydration, normal saline administration (0.9% Sodium Chloride IV), vasopressors IV infusions, inhalation of 100% oxygen, ranitidine IV, magnesium sulfate IV infusion and other supportive treatment.

Inclusion Criteria: Patients with severe acute aluminum phosphide poisoning systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≤90 mmHg PH ≤ 7.2 HCO3 ≤15 meq/L during the first six hours of admission Exclusion Criteria: Pregnant and lactating women Asymptomatic patients with history of acute aluminum phosphide exposure. Patients with co-ingestion to other substances in addition to aluminum phosphide. Patients with other major medical conditions (e.g. cardiovascular disease, renal or hepatic failure). Patients with previous medical intervention (fluid therapy and vasopressors).