A case of paraquat poisoning

A 22-year-old man was admitted to our clinic as an emergency case of Paraquat poisoning. It was taken for the purpose of suicide and jaundice was developed at 6th day after drinking it. Liver function tests showed marked elevation of serum bilirubin, GOT, GPT, alkalinephosphatase, and leucineaminopeptidase. Renal function tests including PSP test and concentration test revealed mainly a tubular dysfunction. However, no fibrotic change of the lung was observed by chest-X-ray studies during his entire clinical course. Macrophage migration inhibition test for the drug was negative. Histological studies of the liver biopsy specimens revealed that fatty change and cellural necrosis were recognized in some areas of the centrilobular zone, while the cell infiltration in Glisson's c apsules was found only slightly. No infiltration of neutrocytes and eosir4ocytes were found in the lobules. Accordingly, this liver damage was considered to be due to toxic reaction of the Paraquat.