Biomaterial Database

Acute barium poisoning with respiratory failure and rhabdomyolysis. 1991

C H Johnson, and V J VanTassell

Department of Internal Medicine, Maricopa Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona 85010.

Barium is a divalent alkaline earth metal used as the insoluble sulfate salt in contrast radiography and soluble acid salts in industry. Barium poisoning results from ingestion or inhalation of the acid salts; the most common poisoning occurs after ingestion of the rodenticide barium carbonate (BaCO3). We report seven cases of BaCO3 poisoning in one family; three hospitalized patients displayed classic signs of barium toxicity, and one patient also developed rhabdomyolysis, respiratory failure, and hypophosphatemia. All patients survived. Rhabdomyolysis has not been previously reported in barium poisoning, and this is the first reported barium poisoning epidemic in the United States. The history, pathophysiology, and treatment of barium poisoning are reviewed.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D011041	Poisoning	A condition or physical state produced by the ingestion, injection, inhalation of or exposure to a deleterious agent.	Poisonings
D012131	Respiratory Insufficiency	Failure to adequately provide oxygen to cells of the body and to remove excess carbon dioxide from them. (Stedman, 25th ed)	Acute Hypercapnic Respiratory Failure,Acute Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure,Hypercapnic Acute Respiratory Failure,Hypercapnic Respiratory Failure,Hypoxemic Acute Respiratory Failure,Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure,Respiratory Depression,Respiratory Failure,Ventilatory Depression,Depressions, Ventilatory,Failure, Hypercapnic Respiratory,Failure, Hypoxemic Respiratory,Failure, Respiratory,Hypercapnic Respiratory Failures,Hypoxemic Respiratory Failures,Respiratory Failure, Hypercapnic,Respiratory Failure, Hypoxemic,Respiratory Failures
D002648	Child	A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL.	Children
D002675	Child, Preschool	A child between the ages of 2 and 5.	Children, Preschool,Preschool Child,Preschool Children
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328	Adult	A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available.	Adults
D001464	Barium	An element of the alkaline earth group of metals. It has an atomic symbol Ba, atomic number 56, and atomic weight 138. All of its acid-soluble salts are poisonous.