Organophosphates are
insecticides which are widely used as a suicidal agent in Iran. They are associated with different types of cardiac complications including
cardiac arrest and
arrhythmia, however their role in cardiac injury is not known yet. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of myocardial damage in patients with
cholinesterase poisoning.It was a prospective study conducted from January 2008 to March 2010. Cohorts of patients with
cholinesterase poisoning due to suicidal attempt who have been referred to Loghman hospital were selected. Patients who have taken more than one
poison or were used concomitant drugs were excluded. Physical examination was performed on admission to discover warning sign. Peripheral arterial blood
gases,
creatine kinase,
creatine kinase-myocardial band,
troponin-T measurements were performed in all cases. There were 24 patients, 7 of them women, with the mean age of 41.2±15.05 who were included in this study. Non-survivors had significantly higher levels of systolic blood pressure, partial pressure of
oxygen in arterial blood, partial pressure of
carbon dioxide,
bicarbonate Glasgow Coma Scale scoring and longer duration of
mechanical ventilation. Our findings showed that cardiac injury is an important cause of death in
organophosphate poisoning. It could be hypothesized that cardiac injury is a strong predictor of death in patients with
organophosphate poisoning.