To study the cardiotoxicity of acute organophosphate (OP), poisoning,
this study was designed to evaluate 46patients who presented to the
Bertha poisoning control unit over a 14 months period from the 1st of
March, 2007 to 30 April, 2008, with acute OP poisoning and discus their •
associated cardiac complication and electrocadiographical (ECG) abnormalities.
The serum level of cholinesterase (AChE) was significantly lower
than the normal value. At the same time serum creatinine kinase (CK-MB)
and cardiac trophonin I (Cm!) levels were significantly elevated at the
time of admit-ion indicating the presence some degree of cardiac injury.
ECG changes confirmed the presence of cardiac injury. These was sinus
tachycardia (34.78%) which the most common ECG abnormality, sinus
brculycardia occurred in 9 patients (19.56%), hypertension developed in 6
patients (14.04%) and hypotension in 6 patients (13.04%). OP induced
impaired cardiac conductivity in form of prolongation of the QTc interval
(32.61%) and prolonged PR interval (8.70%) and increased cardiac excitability
in the form of extracystole (6.52%), ventricular tachycardia (2.17%)
and atrial fibrilintion (4.35%) and also induced myocardial cell injury
manifested by elevated ST segment (15.2296). Cardiac trophonin I (Cm!)
level is indicated for diagnosis of cardiac injury due to OP poising when
the patient is seen 3 days after intoxication. Most of cardiac complications
associated with organophosphate occur during the first few hours
after exposure. Sympathatic, parasymathatic over activity hypoxemia, acidosis
and electrolyte derangements and a direct toxic effect of the OP on
the myocardium are major predisposing factors for the development of
these complications. The cardiac complications and ECG abnormalities
all returned to normal before the patients were discharged. Initial corn-
plete ECG is recorrurtended and should be obtained immediately in the
Poison Control Unit in patients with acute OP or poisoning. |
