J Korean Soc Clin Toxicol.  2020 Dec;18(2):136-140. 10.22537/jksct.2020.18.2.136.

Initial Serum Ammonia as a Predictor of Mortality in Patients with Acute Glufosinate Ammonium Herbicide Poisoning

• Lae Ko EN
• Kim DH
• Lee SH
• Jeong JH
• Lee SB
• Sung A
• Suh JH
• Kang C

• KMID: 2512263
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.22537/jksct.2020.18.2.136

Abstract

Purpose
The association of the initial serum ammonia level with in-hospital mortality in patients with acute glufosinate-ammonium herbicide poisoning was studied.
Methods
This retrospective cohort study was conducted between March 2012 and August 2019 in the emergency department after glufosinate-ammonium herbicide poisoning. Survivors and non-survivors were analyzed using a Mann-Whitney U test and Fisher’s exact test. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the independent risk factors for mortality.
Results
One hundred and six patients were enrolled; 11 died, yielding a mortality of 10.4%. The serum bicarbonate level was significantly lower in the non-survival group than the survival group. Age, serum ammonia, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine levels, SOFA score, and APACHE II score were significantly higher in the non-survival group than the survival group. Age, serum ammonia, and creatinine level were independent risk factors for mortality in multivariate logistic regression analysis.
Conclusion
The initial serum ammonia level is associated with mortality in patients with acute glufosinate herbicide poisoning.

Keyword

Glufosinate ammonium; Herbicide; Poisoning; Mortality