Acetaminophen overdoses at a county hospital: a year's experience. 1978

S B Cohen, and R F Burk

During a recent one-year period nine cases of hepatotoxicity caused by overdoses of acetaminophen were recognized at Parkland Memorial Hospital. This contrasted with the previous year in which no cases were seen. These cases and an additional case seen after the one-year period are presented and discussed. Hepatic injury ranged from mild, with only SGOT elevations in several patients, to severe, with marked prolongation of prothrombin times in four and stage IV hepatic encephalopathy in two. One patient died of fulminant hepatic failure. Other manifestations of acetaminophen overdoses included renal dysfunction in three patients, lactic acidosis in three, shock in two, and hyperamylasemia in two. These findings indicate that extrahepatic complications of acetaminophen overdose may be more common than indicated in previous reports. Because of the delayed nature of the clinical manifestations of acetaminophen overdose, as clearly demonstrated in these patients, decisions on hopsitalization and treatment must be made early based on the history and on acetaminophen levels.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007674 Kidney Diseases Pathological processes of the KIDNEY or its component tissues. Disease, Kidney,Diseases, Kidney,Kidney Disease
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D011379 Prognosis A prediction of the probable outcome of a disease based on a individual's condition and the usual course of the disease as seen in similar situations. Prognostic Factor,Prognostic Factors,Factor, Prognostic,Factors, Prognostic,Prognoses
D005260 Female Females
D006766 Hospitals, County Hospitals controlled by the county government. County Hospitals,County Hospital,Hospital, County
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000082 Acetaminophen Analgesic antipyretic derivative of acetanilide. It has weak anti-inflammatory properties and is used as a common analgesic, but may cause liver, blood cell, and kidney damage. Acetamidophenol,Hydroxyacetanilide,Paracetamol,APAP,Acamol,Acephen,Acetaco,Acetominophen,Algotropyl,Anacin-3,Datril,N-(4-Hydroxyphenyl)acetanilide,N-Acetyl-p-aminophenol,Panadol,Tylenol,p-Acetamidophenol,p-Hydroxyacetanilide,Anacin 3,Anacin3
D000138 Acidosis A pathologic condition of acid accumulation or depletion of base in the body. The two main types are RESPIRATORY ACIDOSIS and metabolic acidosis, due to metabolic acid build up. Metabolic Acidosis,Acidoses,Acidoses, Metabolic,Acidosis, Metabolic,Metabolic Acidoses
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
D000681 Amylases A group of amylolytic enzymes that cleave starch, glycogen, and related alpha-1,4-glucans. (Stedman, 25th ed) EC 3.2.1.-. Diastase,Amylase

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