Ultimo Aggiornamento: Gennaio 2004

1: BMJ. 2004 Jan 3;328(7430):42-4.

Self poisoning with pesticides.

Eddleston M, Phillips MR.

Centre for Tropical Medicine, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine,
University of Oxford, Oxford. eddlestonm@eureka.lk

PMID: 14703547 [PubMed - in process]

2: Hum Exp Toxicol. 2003 Nov;22(11):617-21.

Prothrombin time prolongation in paracetamol poisoning: a relevant marker of
hepatic failure?

Payen C, Dachraoui A, Pulce C, Descotes J.

Centre Antipoison-Centre de Pharmacovigilance, 162 Avenue Lacassagne, Lyon,
France. christine.payen@chu-lyon.fr

The association between paracetamol overdose and prolonged prothrombin time due
to hepatic failure is well recognized. However, little is known of the
possibility that paracetamol overdose can prolong the prothrombin time without
overt hepatic failure. The few data from the literature suggest this is either
due to a reduction in the functional levels of the vitamin K-dependent clotting
factors by elevated doses of paracetamol, or a consequence of the administration
of the antidote N-acetylcystein. The three reported cases provide further
evidence that paracetamol overdose can be associated with a prolongation in the
prothrombin time without overt hepatic failure. Even though the prothrombin time
provides useful prognosis information, decisions regarding the management of
these patients should not solely be based on this endpoint to avoid
misinterpretation of the accuracy and the severity of liver failure.

PMID: 14686484 [PubMed - in process]