Acute blasticidin S poisoning.

Abstract

Blasticidin S is an effective fungicidal aminocylonucleoside antibiotic against a rice blast disease. We presented the first 4 reported cases of acute poisoning from ingesting blasticidin S for suicidal attempts. Three of the patients were fatal. The symptoms observed in the patients included vomiting immediately after ingestion and severe, persistent, watery diarrhea. The toxic effects of blasticidin S were noted in ectodermal tissues including the skin, conjunctiva, cornea, and intestine. Massive loss of intestinal fluid resulted in progressively pronounced hypotension associated with tachycardia. The treatment of choice for the poisoning consists of intravenous fluid administration and the management of body water and electrolyte balance.

• Authors: M Yamashita, K Nakamura, H Naito, H Suzuki, T Tsuchiya, T Hattori, M Iwasaki, J Eguchi
• Journal: Veterinary and human toxicology (Vet Hum Toxicol) Vol. 29 Issue 1 Pg. 8-11 (Feb 1987) ISSN: 0145-6296 [Print] United States
• PMID: 3824882 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antifungal Agents
• Guanidines
• Nucleosides
• blasticidin S

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Antifungal Agents (poisoning)
• Female
• Guanidines (poisoning)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Nucleosides
• Suicide, Attempted