Clinical and biochemical data obtained from 163 patients who had taken an overdose of paracetamol were examined to determine which factors or measurements were of value in predicting the severity of ensuing liver damage early after ingestion of tablets. Although the overall severity of hepatic necrosis was found to increase with the dose of paracetamol ingested, correlation was not sufficiently...

Two patients with severe thrombocytopenia after paracetamol overdose are described. The platelet count was lowest two days after the overdose. Neither leucopenia nor anaemia occurred.

INTRODUCTION Paracetamol is one of the most commonly used analgesics and antipyretics available without limits as preparations of the OTC group (over the counter drugs). Overdose and poisoning with this drug always brings about the risk of acute hepatic failure. The objective of the study was a retrospective evaluation of patients hospitalized in the Paediatric Clinic during the period 2004-201...

and after study. BMJ 2001;322:1203–7. 2 Khashab M, Tector AJ, Kwo PY. Epidemiology of acute liver failure. Curr Gastroenterol Rep 2007;9:66–73. 3 Davidson DG, Eastham WN. Acute liver necrosis following overdose of paracetamol. BMJ 1966;2: 497–9. 4 Thomson JS, Prescott LF. Liver damage and impaired glucose tolerance after paracetamol overdosage. BMJ 1966;2:506–7. 5 Vale A. Paracetamol (acetamino...

The aim of this prospective trial was to compare the efficacy of gastric lavage, activated charcoal and ipecacuanha at limiting the absorption of paracetamol in overdose and to assess the significance of the continued absorption of paracetamol following treatment. Patients aged 16 and over who had ingested 5 gms or more of paracetamol within 4h of admission were entered into the trial. The perc...

INTRODUCTION Paracetamol overdose is the most common drug overdose worldwide. To our knowledge, the maximum number of paracetamol tablets ingested reported in the literature is 45 g. CLINICAL PICTURE We describe a 21-year-old patient who acutely ingested 120 tablets, each 500 mg paracetamol (i.e., 60 g equivalent to 1200 mg/kg body weight) in a suicidal attempt. Our patient also drank 2 bottl...

OBJECTIVES The study proposed a clinical decision rule: In patients who have taken a deliberate overdose, but deny taking paracetamol or paracetamol containing compounds, who have a GCS of 15, understand English well, and have not taken excessive alcohol, there is no need to take blood for paracetamol estimation. METHODS 307 consecutive emergency department patients were followed up, and the ...

BACKGROUND Paracetamol and salicylate are commonly taken in acute overdose. Clinicians have a low threshold for excluding the presence of these two drugs, by ordering laboratory tests in any patient suspected of ingesting an overdose or with an altered mental state. AIM To test the effectiveness of a new point of care test that qualitatively detects paracetamol and salicylate in blood and to ...

BACKGROUND Glutathione depletion increases the incidence of toxicity after paracetamol overdose. Risk factors for toxicity, including chronic ethanol excess and malnutrition, are associated with low serum urea concentrations. Therefore, we hypothesized that low serum urea concentration might itself be predictive of hepatotoxicity in patients that present to hospital after paracetamol overdose. ...

Paracetamol is involved in a large proportion of overdoses that present to the Emergency Department (ED), either as lone or mixed overdoses. Non-treatment of toxic levels can lead to fulminant liver failure. This study is to determine the impact the new UK treatment guidelines will have on patients presenting with paracetamol overdose. A retrospective review was performed on all patients who ha...