Toxicology Flashcards
Mechanism of acetaminophen toxicity
APAP metabolized to NAPQI. NAPQI is detoxified by glutathione.
When glutathione stores are depleted, NAPQI can bind to cell proteins in the liver→ hepatic cell death
4 clinical stages of APAP toxicity
- Name
- Time course
- Symptoms
- Signs
1: 0-12h, preinjury
- n/v, anorexia, malaise
- ↑ serum APAP concentration
2: 8-36h, liver injury
- n/v, RUQ pain
- ↑ AST
3: 2-4d, maximum liver injury
- Liver failure - encephalopathy, coagulopathy, acidosis
- Hemorrhage, ARDS, sepsis/SIRS, MOF, cerebral edema
4: >4d, recovery
- No symptoms
- Complete hepatic histologic recovery
Amount of APAP needed for acute ingestion to lead to toxicity?
> 10g total
Or >150mg/kg
(forty 325mg tabs, or twenty five 500mg tabs in 80kg adult)
Indication for treatment with NAC in APAP overdose @ 4h
APAP level > 150µg/mL at 4 hours
Based off of adaptation of rumack-matthew line
Patients at higher risk for hepatotoxicity with chronic APAP use? (4)
Chronic INH ingestion
Chronic etoh ingestion
(↑ CYP2E1 activity)
Malnourished
Severe dehydration
Indications for testing APAP and AST in chronic APAP ingestions for suspect APAP poisoning? (>6yo) (3)
Ingestion of >10g/d (or >200mg/kg/d, whichever is smaller) in 24h period
Ingestion of >6g/d (or >150mg/kg/d) over 48h period or longer
Symptomatic (RUQ pain/tenderness/jaundice/vomiting)
** consider if >4g/d for several days, AST >2x normal, evidence of APAP excess (serum >30µg/mL)
Indications for emergent HD following acute APAP ingestion (5)
Serum APAP >1000mg/L at 4h post-ingestion
Hepatorenal syndrome (Cr >3.5)
Metabolic acidosis with pH <7.30
Encephalopathy
↑ lactate (>3.5mmol/L)
Pathophysiology of ASA toxicity
Uncoupled ox phos → ↑ lactic/pyruvic acid and ↑ lipid metabolism → elevated anion gap acidosis
Stimulation of resp drive → respiratory alkalosis
↓ pH → more of salicylic acid becomes neutral charge → crosses BBB → neurotoxicity
Neuro effects: hypoglycemia, AMS, coma, seizure
Principles of treatment for ASA toxicity
Alkalinize blood (convert to charged form and prevent BBB crossing)
Alkalinize urine (enhance excretion)
Treat dehydration
Correct hypokalemia
Correct hypokalemia
HD if severe or refractory to conservative management
Intubate only if absolutely necessary
Manifestations of anticholinergic (antimuscarinic) toxicity
- Peripheral
- CNS
Peripheral - smooth muscle (intestinal, bronchial, cardiac), secretory glands (salivary and sweat), ciliary body of the eye
– tachycardia, HTN, hyperthermia, mydriasis, dry mouth, dry skin (lack of sweating), skin flushing, ↓ bowel motility, urinary retention
CNS: delirium characterized by confusion, mumbling speech, agitation, hallucinations, picking gestures, myoclonus, tremor, coma
Antimuscarinic (Anticholinergic) toxidrome (8)
Mydriasis - "blind as a bat" AMS - "mad as a hatter" Dry mucous membranes - "dry as a bone" Dry, flushed skin - "red as a beet" Hyperthermia - "hot as hades" Urinary retention - "full as a flask" ↓ bowel sounds/ileus Tachycardia
Treatment for antimuscarinic/anticholinergic poisoning
Usually symptomatic treatment
IV bicarb if evidence of Na-channel blockade (QRS > 120ms)
Benzos for agitation/seizure
Physostigmine
MOA of physostigmine
Antidote for anticholinergic/antimuscarinic poisoning
Reversibly inhibits cholinesterases in PNS and CNS → ↑ ACh accumulation and subsequent competition with antimuscarinic blocking agent, occupying the receptor
Mechanism of action of MAOI’s
Monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A): deaminates serotonin and NE
Monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B): deaminates phenylethylamine
Both equally metabolize Tyramine and dopamine.
MAOI’s can be selective or non-selective.
Examples of MAOI’s
Early MAOI’s
-Selective MAOI’s
Early: phenelzine, isocarboxazid, tranylcypromine - non-selective, irreversible
Selegiline - irreversible MAO-B used for Parkinson’s, metabolized to L-methamphetamine
Linezolid, reversible MAO-A inhibitor
Mechanism of MAOI toxicity with Tyramine
Tyramine - indirect acting sympathomimetic present in aged cheese ,red wine, smoked/pickled/aged meats
When MAO-A is inhibited, tyramine is not metabolized in gut/liver → systemic absorption → enters presynaptic vesicles → release of NE and serotonin into synapse → hypertensive crisis, as well as HA, flushing, diaphoresis
Clinical features of MAO-I toxicity
Asymptomatic period (up to 24h) → delayed toxicity
Hyperadrenergic symptoms - tachycardia, HTN, hyperthermia
Seizure, rhabdomyolysis, coma, and ultimately cardiovascular collapse once presynaptic catecholamines are depleted
Clinical features of TCA toxicity
Anticholinergic symptoms
- BUT with small pupils 2/2 α effects
Altered mental status
- confusion, agitation, hallucinations, coma
EKG changes
- Wide QRS
- Prolonged QTc
EKG changes in TCA toxicity
WIDE QRS due to Na-channel blockade
>100ms associated with seizures
>160ms associated with ventricular dysrhythmias
Prolonged QTc due to inhibition of K efflux
Triad of serotonin syndrome
Clinical features of serotonin syndrome
Autonomic instability
Altered mental status
↑ neuromuscular activity
Clinical features: tremor, akathisia, GI illness, clonus (inducible or spontaneous), rigidity, fevers, autonomic instability
Caustic ingestions:
Mechanism of injury from acidic compounds
Acidic compounds desiccate epithelial cells → coagulation necrosis.
An eschar is formed that limits further penetration.
*** strong odor, immediate pain on contact → limits quantity ingested
Squamous epithelium is relatively resistant to coagulation necrosis → esophageal/pharyngeal damage «_space;gastric damage
Caustic ingestions:
Mechanism of injury from alkaline compounds
Alkaline compounds cause liquefaction necrosis, fat saponification, protein disruption → further penetration into tissue.
*** colorless, odorless, do not cause immediate pain on contact
Damage typically to squamous epithelial cells of oropharynx, hypopharynx, and esophagus.
Can also cause gastric necrosis, intestinal necrosis, and perforation.
*** Burns below pylorus = 50% mortality, above = 9% mortality.
Caustic ingestions:
Difference between acidic and alkaline ingestions
Acidic - coagulation necrosis, strong odor and immediate pain on contact, epithelium of esophagus/pharynx somewhat resistant. Absorption → metabolic acidosis
Alkaline - liquefaction necrosis, colorless/odorless, full-thickness/perforation of esophagus, pharynx, more significant local injury.
Clinical features of hydrofluoric acid exposure
Hydrofluoric acid exposure - inhalation, ingestion, or dermal contact (hand size or larger)
Fluoride is absorbed → hypocalcemia
** Requires cardiac monitoring to assess for QTc prolongation, torsades de pointes, or other ventricular dysrhythmias.
Rapid cardiac deterioration can occur.
Determine serum calcium, potassium, magnesium in these cases.
Mechanism of action and clinical effect of Digoxin
MOA: inhibits cardiac membrane Na-K-ATPase → ↑ INTRAcellular Na, ↑ EXTRAcellular K
↑ intracellular Na → dysfunction of Na-Ca exchange → ↑ intracellular Ca → ↑ Ca-induced Ca release in sarcoplasmic reticulum → more powerful muscle contraction and ↑ CO.
Clinical effects:
- ↑ force of myocardial contraction → ↑ CO in pts with heart failure
- ↓ AV conduction to slow ventricular rate in Afib
Toxic effects of Digoxin
- Hyperkalemia
- Directly blocks generation of impulses in SA node
- Depresses conduction through AV node
- ↑ sensitivity of SA/AV nodes to catecholamines
EKG findings with digoxin toxicity
1 most common
4 other specific dysrhythmias
Most common: ↑↑ PVCs
Specific dysrhythmias (not pathognomonic)
- Afib with slow/regular ventricular rate (AV dissociation)
- Non-paroxysmal junctional tachycardia (70-130bpm)
- Atrial tachycardia with block (atrial rate usually 150-200bpm)
- Bidirectional ventricular tachycardia
*** Digoxin can produce virtually any dysrhythmia or conduction block, and bradycardias are as common as tachycardias
Plants that may cause cardioactive steroid poisoning (mimicking digoxin poisoning) (3)
- Oleander - Nerium oleander
- Lily-of-the-valley - Convallaria majalis
- Aconitine, a Na-channel opening xenobiotic found in common Monkshood (aconitum napellus)
Dosing of DigiFab in Digoxin toxicity:
- Based on ingested dose
- Based on steady-state digoxin concentration
- Based on ingested dose:
Amount ingested x 0.8 (bioavailability of dig tablets)
e.g. 40yoF ingested fifty 0.25mg tablets
Amount ingested = 0.25mg x 50 x 0.8 = 10mg
1 vial = 0.5mg digoxin, therefore administer 20 vials - Based on steady-state digoxin concentration (measured 6-8h after ingestion)
( Serum dig concentration x weight in kg ) / 100 + # vials
e.g. 20kg child with dig level 16ng/mL 8h after ingestion unknown # of digoxin tablets
( 16 x 20 ) / 100 = 3 vials
*** divide by 100 in children, 1000 in adults
Electrolyte abnormalities seen with Digoxin toxicity
- Hyperkalemia (acute poisoning, chronic may present with hypokalemia)
- Caution with K repletion; K may increase with administration of DigiFab - Hypocalcemia - Ca held intracellularly
- Caution with Ca repletion or CaGluconate administration for HypoK; theoretical “stone heart syndrome” - Hypomagnesemia - required for K repletion, suppression of tachydysrhythmias
Treatment for unstable dysrhythmia in Digoxin toxicity (3)
- DigiFab
- Phenytoin - if DigiFab unavailable or while being prepared - may enhance AV conduction - 100mg bolus q5min until dysrhythmia improves OR max 18mg/kg reached
- Lidocaine - only if contraindication to Phenytoin or max dose of phenytoin has been reached - 1.5mg/kg IVP → 1-4mg/min infusion (30-50 µg/kg/min).
** most other cardiac drugs (isoproterenol, procainamide, amiodarone, βblockers, CCBs) may worsen dysrhythmias or depress AV conduction in dig poisoned patients and should not be used.
Manifestations and complications of β-blocker OD in order of decreasing frequency (10)
- Bradycardia
- Hypotension
- Unconsciousness
- Respiratory arrest/insufficiency
- Hypoglycemia (uncommon in adults)
- Seizures (esp with propanolol)
- Symptomatic bronchospasm (uncommon)
- VT or VF
- Mild hyperK (uncommon)
- Hepatotoxicity, mesenteric ischemia, renal failure (very rare)