Acute iron poisoning: clinical features and management

Abstract

The patients with iron ingestion admitted between 1964 and 1973 are reviewed and the case histories of 8 serious ingestions are summarized. The clinical features of vomiting, diarrhea, cardiovascular collapse, increasing central depression leading to coma, and hepatic necrosis are discussed. The management, including the use of sodium bicarbonate, intravenous fluids and the specific antidote desferrioxamine, is discussed. There were 3 fatal cases. The postmortem findings (1 case) included ulceration of the stomach and intestine, renal cortical necrosis, focal hepatic necrosis and cerebral edema.