Phase II study of magnesium sulfate in acute organophosphate pesticide poisoning

BACKGROUND: Acute organophosphorus (OP) poisoning is relatively common and a major cause of death from poisoning in developing countries. Magnesium has been shown to be of benefit in animal models. METHODS: We conducted a phase II study of bolus doses of (MgSO4) in 50 patients with acute organophosphate poisoning. Patients eligible for inclusion had ingested OP and had cholinergic symptoms consistent with moderate or severe poisoning. All patients received standard care of atropinization titrated to control muscarinic symptoms and pralidoxime. The trial was run in 4 sequential groups of patients. Participants in each group received a different total dose of MgSO4 (20%) administered as intermittent bolus doses infused over 10-15 min or placebo. There was one control patient for every…