US EPA

2728339 

Journal Article 

Pralidoxime as an insignificant reactivator in severe anticholinesterase (organophosphate insecticide) poisoning 

Ganendran, A; Balabaskaran, S 

1976 

1 

Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health
ISSN: 0125-1562 

HEEP/77/11310 

7 

4 

543-550 

HEEP COPYRIGHT: BIOL ABS. In acute severe anticholinesterase poisoning (human) by organophosphate compounds, pralidoxime (P-2-AM, pyridine-2-aldoxime methiodide) used in the recommended doses, i.v., has not been shown to reactivate the inhibited cholinesterase, as evidenced both clinically and biochemically. In vitro studies using pralidoxime iodide up to 10 times the recommended concentrations, produced insignificant reactivation of cholinesterases inhibited by the organophosphate insecticide Bidrin (di-methyl-3-hydroxyl-N, N-dimethyl-crotonamide phosphate). This was even so despite prolonged exposure of the inhibited cholinesterases to the oxime. The value of pralidoxime as a reactivator of phosphorylated cholinesterases is therefore in doubt, and should not be used in preference to large doses of atropine and other supportive treatment in poisoning by organophosphate insecticides.