Clinical Toxicology最新文献

Introduction: Paracetamol (acetaminophen) poisoning is common, and many publications describe various outcomes and treatments. As internationally agreed definitions are non-existent to describe patterns of paracetamol overdose (acute, repeated supratherapeutic, chronic, or staggered), it is difficult to analyze outcomes between studies. The Clinical Toxicology Recommendations Collaborative was tasked to provide guidance on the management of paracetamol poisoning and formed the Paracetamol Workgroup. The Workgroup concluded that an agreed set of terms was needed to perform the systematic review and categorize the evidence.

Methods: A modified Delphi process was employed to establish uniform definitions to categorize various patterns of paracetamol overdose.

Results: Group consensus was reached for each one of the following standard definitions for each pattern of poisoning: acute, staggered, repeated supratherapeutic ingestions, and chronic for use in their upcoming systematic review. "Acute" ingestion represents an excessive amount of paracetamol ingested over a total time (from first paracetamol dose ingested to last paracetamol dose ingested) of less than 8 h. "Staggered" ingestion involves an excessive amount of paracetamol ingested over a total time period of between 8 h and 24 h. "Repeated supratherapeutic ingestion" describes ingestions exceeding the recommended daily dose for more than 24 h, and "chronic" ingestion includes both staggered or repeated supratherapeutic ingestions. "High-risk overdoses" are defined by either an ingested dose, that is greater than 500 mg/kg or 30 g (whichever is less), or an initial serum or plasma paracetamol concentration of greater than 300 mg/L (1,985 µmol/L) at 4 h on the Rumack-Matthew nomogram line.

Discussion: The definitions established by the Paracetamol Workgroup will structure the upcoming systematic review, ensuring consistent categorization of studies within each ingestion pattern to enable clearer comparisons of treatments and outcomes.

Conclusion: We encourage researchers to define overdose patterns and patients at increased risk of hepatotoxicity consistently and to include these definitions in publications to improve research reliability and comparability.

Introduction: In early 2023, the Israeli National Poison Information Center received reports of children exposed to tenfold dosing errors of oral risperidone solution. To assess the scope of this issue, we systematically searched for all similar cases reported to the Israeli National Poison Information Center. Our aims were to describe the occurrence and causes of such errors and explore potential preventive measures.

Methods: Using the Israeli National Poison Information Center database, we retrospectively identified and reviewed cases of unintentional tenfold oral risperidone solution overdoses in children under 13 years of age between 1 January 2020, and 31 December 2023. We collected information about demographics, the circumstances of the administration error, and patient disposition and outcomes.

Results: We identified 60 children (median age 7 years; IQR: 5.5-9 years; 73% boys) who were exposed to a tenfold error in the administration of oral risperidone solution. In 48% of cases, the error occurred upon the first administration. The main contributing factor to this dosing error appeared to be the discrepancy between the small dosing volume of the doses prescribed (approximately 0.25 mL) and the comparatively large syringe size provided by the manufacturer in the package (3 mL). We reported this issue to the Israeli Ministry of Health, which published a safety alert warning health care professional about such administration errors.

Discussion: Oral medication solutions need to be measured individually and are therefore associated with a higher likelihood of dosing errors compared to tablets.

Conclusion: Health care workers and caregivers need to be aware of the risk of dosing errors when administrating oral risperidone solution to children. Supplying appropriate dosing syringes with the medication bottle may mitigate the risks of such administration errors.

Introduction: There have been increasing reports of electronic vaping devices (e-cigarettes) being contaminated with synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists.

Methods: This is an observational case series of patients admitted to two acute hospitals in the United Kingdom between February 2022 and February 2025 who declared use of vaping products and were found on routine toxicological screening of urine to have been exposed to MDMB-4en-PINACA.

Results: Seven patients were exposed to MDMB-4en-PINACA via a vaping device. Six patients (85.7%) were male. The median age was 17 years (range 14-37 years). Five patients (71.4%) presented with unusual changes in behaviour; six patients (85.7%) were agitated on admission; four patients (57.1%) displayed psychotic features, including hallucinations and delusions. In three cases, MDMB-4en-PINACA was the only substance detected.

Discussion: In young patients presenting to hospital with psychiatric symptoms, it is important to ask about the use of vaping products and consider testing for synthetic cannabinoids.

Conclusion: We describe seven patients with analytically confirmed MDMB-4en-PINACA toxicity associated with the use of electronic vaping devices who presented over three years. Most patients were adolescents and presented with a change in behaviour associated with agitation, with or without psychotic features.