@article{ref1,
title="Dimethylformamide metabolism following self-harm using a veterinary euthanasia product",
journal="Clinical toxicology (Philadelphia, Pa.)",
year="2010",
author="Hantson, Philippe and Villa, Antoine and Galloy, Anne-Cecile and Negri, Sara and Esabon, Giulia and Lambiotte, Fabien and Haufroid, Vincent and Garnier, Robert",
volume="48",
number="7",
pages="725-729",
abstract="Background. A veterinary euthanasia drug containing embutramide, mebezonium, tetracaine, and dimethylformamide (DMF; T-61® or Tanax®) may cause serious manifestations or even fatalities after self-poisoning. Immediate toxicity is mainly due to a general anesthetic and due to a neuromuscular blocking agent, while delayed hepatotoxicity seems related to the solvent DMF. The protective role of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) administration remains debatable. Material and methods. Two male veterinarians (50- and 44-year-old) attempted suicide by injecting T-61 in the precordial area for the first one, and by ingesting 50 mL for the second. Both received NAC (for 14 days in the first case and only for 20 h in the second). Urine was collected for the serial determination of DMF, N-methylformamide (NMF), and N-acetyl-S-(N-methylcarbamoyl)cysteine (AMCC). Results. Both patients developed only mild signs of liver injury. The metabolite of DMF, NMF, appeared rapidly in the urine, while a further delay was necessary for AMCC excretion. The kinetics of elimination of DMF and DMF metabolites were slightly slower than those reported in exposed workers. Conclusions. While both patients had a favorable outcome, there is no clear evidence that NAC could directly influence NMF and AMCC excretion. Further investigations of NMF and AMCC excretion, with and without NAC, would be indicated.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1556-3650",
doi="10.3109/15563650.2010.498790",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/15563650.2010.498790"
}