Assessment of the role of total antioxidant capacity and troponin I as possible predictors for phosphides -induced cardiotoxicity (A prospective study in the poison control center of Ain Shams University Hospitals)

Abstract

Metal phosphides are broadly used as strong fumigant rodenticides due to their ideal properties and extremely powerful effect. Acute poisoning due to metal phosphides is extremely lethal by ingestion or inhalation which is commonly suicidal, unusually accidental and rarely homicidal. Heart is a significant target organ of acute metal phosphides toxicity, causing myocardial damage, hypoperfusion, myocarditis, and pericarditis and elevated cardiac markers. The present study aimed at assessing the frequency of cardiovascular manifestations and ECG changes produced by acute phosphides toxicity in patients admitted to the Poison Control Center Ain Shams University Hospital (PCC-ASUH) and evaluating the usefulness of total antioxidant capacity and troponin I as predictive biomarkers for phosphides induced oxidative stress and cardiotoxicity. This study was a prospective one conducted on 188 adult patients of both sex presented to the PCC-ASUH with acute metal phosphides poisoning during the period from the beginning of July 2017 till the end of December 2017. The diagnosis of acute metal phosphides poisoning was established according to history of exposure and clinical examination. The selected patients were previously healthy and free from cardiac, renal, hepatic or respiratory diseases. Pregnant females, patients coadministered cardiotoxic drugs with metal phosphides and patients who received prehospital treatment were excluded from the study .