Skin: organophosphates/carbamates are both well-absorbed
Lungs: organophosphates/carbamates are both well-absorbed
Gastrointestinal (GI) Tract: organophosphates/carbamates are both well-absorbed
Injection
Chemistry/Pharmacology
Chemistry
Organophsophates Contain Carbon and Derivatives of Phosphoric Acid
Organophosphates are Irreversible Acteylcholinesterase Inhibitors
“Aging”: the acetylcholinesterase-organophosphate compound undergoes a conformational change over time, resulting in irreversible binding and resistance to reactivation by antidotes (such as oximes)
Dimethyl Compounds: these compounds undergo rapid aging, mandating early initiation of oxime therapy
Diethyl Compounds: these compounds may have delayed toxicity and therefore, may require prolonged therapy
Carbamates are Derived from Carbamic Acid
Carbamates are Reversible Acteylcholinesterase Inhibitors: they spontaneously hydrolyze from the cholinesterase enzymatic site within 48 hrs
Organophosphates and Carbamates are Red Blood Cell Acteylcholinesterase Inhibitors
Acteylcholinesterase Inhibition Results in Accumulation of Acetylcholine at Nicotinic/Muscarinic Synapses and Neuromuscular Junction
Organophosphates Also Inhibit Plasma Cholinesterase (aka Pseudocholinesterase) and Neuropathy Target Esterase (NTE)
The Clinical Consequences of these Interaction are Unclear
Organophosphates and Carbamates are Structurally Distinct, But Have Similar Clinical/Toxicologic Manifestations
Carbamate Intoxication Tends to Be Shorter in Duration than that of Organophosphates (Assuming Equivalent Doses), But the Mortality Rates with Both Exposures are Similar
Clinical Effects
Muscarinic Effects
SLUDGE/BBB Mnemonic
Salivation
Lacrimation
Urination
Defecation
Gastric Emesis
Bronchorrhea
Bronchospasm
Bradycardia
DUMBELS Mnemonic
Defecation
Urination
Miosis
Bronchorrhea/Bronchospasm/Bradycardia
Emesis
Lacrimation
Salivation
Nicotinic Effects
Cardiovascular
Hypertension
Sinus Tachycardia
Neurologic
Areflexia
Ataxia
Twitching/Fasciculations
Weakness/Paralysis
Pulmonary
Acute Respiratory Failure
Bronchospasm
Laryngospasm
Central Nervous System Effects (Mediated by Muscarinic and Nicotinic Receptors in Brain)
More Readily Available from Hospital Laboratories, But Does Not Correlate Well with the Severity of Toxicity: not clinically useful to guide therapy
Clinical Manifestaions
Acute Toxicity
General Comments
Onset of Symptoms: effects generally occur within 30 min-2 hrs after exposure
Latency of Symptoms is Related to Route of Exposure
Respiratory/Oral Exposure: symptoms usually develop within 3 hrs
Dermal Exposure: symptoms may be delayed up to 12 hrs later
Latency of Symptoms is Related to Lipophilicity of the Agent
Lipohilic Agents (Dichlofenthion, Fenthion, Malathion) are Associated with Delayed Onset of Symptoms (Up to 5 Days in Some Cases): may be related to delayed distribution from fat stores
Risk Appears to Be Related to Exposure to a Highly Fat Soluble Organophosphate Agent or Inadequate Therapy with Pralidoxime (Przegl Lek, 1995) [MEDLINE]
Rarely Occurs with Carbamate Exposure
Occurs 24-96 hrs After Exposure
Diagnosis
Red Blood Cell Acetylcholinesterase Levels: correlates to with clinical deterioration (and improvement)
Associated with Chlorpyrifos, Leptophos, Malathion, Merphos, Mipafox,Trichlorfon, and Triorthocresyl Phosphate (TOCP),
Rarely Seen with Carbamate Exposure
Risk of OPIDN is Independent of the Severity of the Initial Acute Toxicity
Physiology
Inhibition of Neuropathy Target Esterase (NTE) Found in Brain, Peripheral Nerves, and Lymphocytes: enzyme normally functions to degrade esters within the cell
Ineffective for Nicotinic Effects (in Particular Neuromuscular Dysfunction): as atropine does not bind to nicotinic receptors
Administration
Diagnostic Test Dose: 1 mg IV
Treatment Dose: 2-5 mg IV
Escalate Dose q3-5 min Until Clinical Effect (Mucosal Drying, Decreased Secretions, Decreased Wheezing) is Observed
Some Cases Require Multiple Doses or Prolonged Infusion Over a Period of Days (Severe Intoxications May Require Up to Hundreds of Milligrams Over Several Days)
Heart Rate and Pupillary Size Should Not Be Used as Treatment Endpoints: tachycardia and mydriasis are not contraindications to atropine
Atropine Autoinjector (Atropen): available for lay person administration in cases of nerve agent/pesticide exposure
Clinical Efficacy
Open Label Trial of Atropine in Organophosphate Intoxication (J Med Toxicol, 2012) [MEDLINE]
Incremental Atropine Bolus Dosing with Infusion Decreased Mortality Rate (and Decreased Atropine Toxicity) in Organophosphate Intoxication, as Compared to Standard Atropine Bolus Dosing with Infusion
Avoid Succinylcholine for Rapid Sequence Intubation (RSI) (see Succinylcholine, Succinylcholine): due to the fact that succinylcholine is metabolized by acetylcholinesterase (which is inhibited by organophosphates) and there is a risk of prolonged paralysis
Nondepolarizing Neuromuscular Blockers (Rocuronium, etc) May Be Less Effective at Standard Doses (Due to Competitive Inhibition at the Neuromuscular Junction: increased doses may be required
However, the Identity of the Agent Should Be Considered, Since Half of the Patients Who Died From Fenthion Poisoning Only Had Mild Symptoms at Presentation
International Program on Chemical Safety Poison Severity Score (IPCS PSS)
APACHE II and SAPS-II Scoring Have Been Demonstrated to Outperform the Poison Severity Score (PSS) in Terms of Predicting Outcome (Clin Toxicol-Phila, 2013) [MEDLINE]
References
Intermediate syndrome in acute fenitrothion poisoning. Przegl Lek. 1995;52(5):271 [MEDLINE]
QTc prolongation indicates a poor prognosis in patients with organophosphate poisoning. Am J Emerg Med. Sep 1996;14(5):451-3
The Tokyo subway sarin attack: disaster management, Part 3: national and international responses. Acad Emerg Med. 1998 Jun;5(6):625-8 [MEDLINE]
Weapons of mass destruction events with contaminated casualties: effective planning for health care facilities. JAMA. 2000;283(2):242-249 [MEDLINE]
Organic insecticides. Anaesth Intensive Care. Feb 2000;28(1):11-21
The prevalence of pancreatitis in organophosphate poisonings. Hum Exp Toxicol. 2002;21(4):175 [MEDLINE]
Acute renal failure from organophospate poisoning: a case of success with haemofiltration. Hum Exp Toxicol. 2003;22(3):165 [MEDLINE]
The clinical and electrophysiological features of a delayed polyneuropathy developing subsequently after acute organophosphate poisoning and it’s correlation with the serum acetylcholinesterase. Electromyogr Clin Neurophysiol. 2003;43(7):421 [MEDLINE]
Changes in the hemodynamic state of patients with acute lethal organophosphate poisoning. Vet Hum Toxicol. 2004;46(1):5 [MEDLINE]
Clinical review: Tokyo – protecting the health care worker during a chemical mass casualty event: an important issue of continuing relevance. Crit Care. 2005 Aug;9(4):397-400. Epub 2005 Feb 17 [MEDLINE]
Continuous pralidoxime infusion versus repeated bolus injection to treat organophosphorus pesticide poisoning: a randomised controlled trial. Lancet. Dec 16 2006;368(9553):2136-41
Acid-base interpretation can be the predictor of outcome among patients with acute organophosphate poisoning before hospitalization. Am J Emerg Med. Jan 2008;26(1):24-30
The spectrum of intermediate syndrome following acute organophosphate poisoning: a prospective cohort study from Sri Lanka. PLoS Med. 2008 Jul 15;5(7):e147. doi: 10.1371/journal.pmed.0050147 [MEDLINE]
Predicting outcome in acute organophosphorus poisoning with a poison severity score or the Glasgow coma scale. QJM. 2008 May;101(5):371-9. Epub 2008 Mar 4 [MEDLINE]
Multiple-dose activated charcoal in acute self-poisoning: a randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 2008;371(9612):579 [MEDLINE]
Evaluation of the Test-mate ChE (cholinesterase) field kit in acute organophosphorus poisoning. Ann Emerg Med. Dec 2011;58(6):559-564.e6
Open-label randomized clinical trial of atropine bolus injection versus incremental boluses plus infusion for organophosphate poisoning in Bangladesh. J Med Toxicol. 2012;8(2):108 [MEDLINE]