Abstract
A 17-year-old, previously healthy female ingested 16,000 mg iron sulphate (96.15 mg of iron ions per kg of b.wt.) with a suicidal intent. The patient was admitted to a toxicology unit 10 hours after the drug ingestion. Serum iron concentration at admission was 2351 μg% (421.0 μmol/L). In the course of the intoxication, hemorrhagic gastritis, renal insufficiency and increasing signs of fulminant hepatic failure complicated with coagulopathy and encephalopathy were observed. Treatment with deferoxamine was started immediately after admission to the hospital and continued for 15 hours until the serum concentration of iron decreased to 145 μg% (25.9 μmol/L). Patient was qualified for liver transplant, therefore albumin dialysis as a bridge to liver transplantation was performed. In spite of two procedures of albumin dialysis using the Prometheus system, deep coma, shock and respiratory insufficiency developed. The patient died 80 hours after iron ingestion. In the presented case, the ingestion of a very high dose of iron and late introduction of deferoxamine treatment contributed to fulminant liver failure and fatal outcome of the intoxication.