Therapeutic efficacies of different hemoperfusion frequencies in patients with organophosphate poisoning.

OBJECTIVE We tested therapeutic efficacies of different hemoperfusion frequencies in patients with acute severe organophosphate poisoning (ASOP). PATIENTS AND METHODS 36 patients with ASOP were enrolled in this study and divided into two groups. Patients in the repeated hemoperfusion group (n=20) received 3-4 hemoperfusions within 48 hours after poisoning, while other patients (n=16) received 1 hemoperfusion. The therapeutic efficacies were compared using the following outcomes: dosage of atropine, time to awake from coma, time for normalization of cholinesterase levels, appearance of intermediate myasthenia syndrome, and survival rates. RESULTS Compared with patients who receive one hemoperfusion, patients with repeated hemoperfusion had a significantly less atropine use, shorter time of awakening from coma, higher cure rates, shorter time until normalization of cholinesterase levels, lower appearance of intermediate myasthenia syndrome, and higher survival rates. CONCLUSIONS Early repeated hemoperfusion is more efficient than single hemoperfusion in treating organophosphate poisoning.