@article{ref1,
title="Acetonitrile serum concentrations and cyanide blood levels in a case of suicidal oral acetonitrile ingestion",
journal="Journal of toxicology - clinical toxicology",
year="1991",
author="Michaelis, H. C. and Clemens, C. and Kijewski, H. and Neurath, H. and Eggert, A.",
volume="29",
number="4",
pages="447-458",
abstract="Acute acetonitrile toxicity is mainly dependent on the release of cyanide via hepatic metabolism. Although evaluated in animals, few data are available concerning the toxicokinetic parameters of acetonitrile and acetonitrile-liberated cyanide in human. This paper reports a case of suicidal oral acetonitrile ingestion of about 5 mL without severe symptoms of intoxication in a previously healthy adult male with a body weight of 60 kg. Acetonitrile serum concentrations as well as cyanide blood levels were determined over the whole hospitalization. The elimination half-lives calculated from these data were 32 h for acetonitrile and 15 h for cyanide. After sodium thiosulfate bolus application, the cyanide blood level rapidly decreased to 10% of the initial value, indicating that sodium thiosulfate sufficiently detoxifies acetonitrile-liberated cyanide. Since cyanide levels again increased to maximal values about 4.5 h after sodium thiosulfate application, continued thiosulfate therapy is required as predicted by the long elimination half-lives of acetonitrile and acetonitrile-liberated cyanide. Determination of cyanide and acetonitrile concentrations is recommended for the estimation of optimal individual sodium thiosulfate dosage.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0731-3810",
doi="",
url="http://dx.doi.org/"
}