Citation

From S, Płusa T. Pol. Merkuriusz Lek. 2015; 39(231): 162-164.

Vernacular Title

Współczesne zagrożenie toksyną rycynową.

Affiliation

Military Institute of Medicine in Warsaw, Department of Internal Medicine, Pneumonology and Allergology, Central Clinical Hospital of Ministry of National Defence.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, MEDPRESS - Polskiego Towarzystwa Lekarskiego)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

26449579

Abstract

Since the late 70s of the last century there were more than 700 incidents related to the use of the ricin toxin. For this reason, CDC (Center of Disease Control and Prevention) recognized toxin as a biological weapon category B. The lethal dose of ricin toxin after parenteral administration is 0.0001 mg/kg and after oral administration 0.2 mg. The first symptoms of poisoning occur within a few hours after application of toxin as a nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In the final stage there are observed: cardiac arrhythmia, collapse and symptoms suggestive of involvement of the central nervous system. Stage immediately preceding death is a state of coma. The ricin toxin is still the substance against which action has no optimal antidote. Developed a vaccine called RiVax is waiting for its registration. It should be pointed out that the availability of a ricin toxin makes it possible to use it for real bioterrorists.

Language: pl