Case Report: Treatment of fulminant paraquat poisoning in a 32-week pregnant patient: a case report exploring the potential role of estrogen

Description

Li Wang and three colleagues report the survival of a woman poisoned by the weed killer paraquat while thirty-two weeks pregnant, a situation that usually ends in death. Paraquat has no specific antidote, and dose decides most outcomes. Her blood carried very high levels of estrogen-related hormone, which the team links with protection of her lungs, the organ paraquat harms worst. An emergency cesarean delivery was performed, and the baby also survived.

Lab testing found a trace of paraquat in the newborn's blood, firm proof that the poison crossed the placenta. That finding explains the baby's short-lived liver and kidney problems. Care also covered mouth ulcers and psychological support for the mother. The authors present the case as a call for paired mother-and-baby poison testing in future cases, and as a hint that pregnancy hormones may blunt this poison's worst effects.

Catalog record

Source: https://europepmc.org/article/MED/PMC13646110