Summary
A 65-year-old Caucasian female developed an intermediate syndrome seven days after an acute cholinergic crisis, caused by the ingestion of fenthion.
Cholinesterase activity in the blood, plasma and red cells was monitored daily by the method according to Nenner and serial serum fenthion levels were measured by capillary gas chromatography.
Electromyographic studies showed fade on tetanic stimulation by means of surface electrodes at 20 Hz of the left M. abductor digiti quinti at day 7, which could no longer be observed at day 19.
Fade on low-frequency stimulation and posttetanic facilitation were both absent.
A biopsy of the N. suralis was normal. A biopsy of the M. tibialis anterior revealed a limited rhabdomyolysis with a very weak staining for cholinesterase.
It is hypothesized that the pathophysiologic process underlying the syndrome is the result of a time-confined phenomenon, which includes both changes in the postsynaptic structures by a desensitization process and a gradually restoring ratio of acetylcholine to acetylcholinesterase. This hypothesis is suggested by the similarity in the EMG-findings of this patient and those in myasthenia gravis, which is known to be characterized by a postsynaptic transmission defect.
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Abbreviations
- AchE:
-
Acetylcholinesterase
- EMG:
-
Electromyography
- M:
-
musculus
- N:
-
nervus
- NTE:
-
Neuropathy Targed Esterase
- OPIDP:
-
Organo phosphor induced delayed polyneuropathy
- SGE:
-
Fused silica needle
- TSD:
-
Thermionic Specific Detection
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Data of this paper were reported at the XIII International Congress of the European Association of Poison Control Centres in Edinburgh — September 1988.
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De Wilde, V., Vogelaers, D., Colardyn, F. et al. Postsynaptic neuromuscular dysfunction in organophosphate induced intermediate syndrome. Klin Wochenschr 69, 177–183 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01665865
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01665865