Changes in canine tissue concentration from steady state with quinidine: Doherty, Straub, Murphy, et al, Am J Cardiol 45:1196–1200, 1980

✍ Scribed by Mel Robinson

• Book ID: 104311889
• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1981
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 127 KB
• Volume: 10
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1097-6760
• DOI: 10.1016/s0196-0644(81)80070-4

✦ Synopsis

Twelve cases of documented arsenic poisoning are reviewed. In half the cases the probable source was illegal moonshine whiskey. Case t-.istories are presented demonstrating classical signs of arsenic toxicity such as symmetrical motor and sensory polyneuritis, gastrointestinal disturbances, and Mees' lines of the nails. One patient had acute renal failure with histological findings of patchy cortical necrosis. Twelve different samples of moonshine were analyzed and many were found to have high levels of arsenic and/or lead. The authors note that the lead neuropathy is usually painless and restricted to motor function. One can infer from the study that illegal moonshine is probably an important cause of the uncommonly diagnosed arsenic toxicity and that the aforementioned signs and symptoms should be searched for in the alcoholic patient. Hair, serum, and urine may be sent for assay to confirm the diagnosis. Treatment is the chelating agent dimercaprol. (Editor's note: Although uncommon, the diagnosis should be considered in those patients with negative history of hematemesis and normal serum amylase who are frequently labeled "'alcoholic gastritis" or "burned out pa ncreatitis.")