strychnine and Pancreatitis

An 18-year-old female who accidentally ingested strychnine developed chemical pancreatitis in addition to the classical clinical picture of strychnine poisoning. Many drugs or chemicals have been reported to be associated with pancreatitis; however, this paper provides us with the first evidence that acute pancreatitis may follow strychnine poisoning. The patient survived despite the development of seizures, lactic acidosis, rhabdomyolysis, and pulmonary infiltrates. Toxicology testing confirmed the presence of strychnine in blood (2.17 mg/L), gastric aspirate, and urine. Attention is drawn to the fact that survival can follow the ingestion of large doses of strychnine providing there is no delay in diagnosis and treatment. The pathophysiologic mechanism of chemical pancreatitis is discussed.

Topics: Acute Disease; Adolescent; Creatine Kinase; Female; Humans; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; Pancreatitis; Poisons; Seizures; Strychnine

Topics: Anesthesia, Conduction; Ascorbic Acid; Blood Protein Disorders; Chronic Disease; Humans; Hydrocortisone; Injections, Intravenous; Injections, Subcutaneous; Lipotropic Agents; Methionine; Pancreatic Extracts; Pancreatin; Pancreatitis; Pituitary Hormones, Posterior; Plasma Substitutes; Prednisolone; Procaine; Protein Hydrolysates; Serine; Serum Albumin; Serum Globulins; Strychnine; Thiamine; Water-Electrolyte Balance