NCJ Number
138354
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 37 Issue: 4 Dated: (July 1992) Pages: 1163-1171
Date Published
1992
Length
9 pages
Annotation
The authors report an acute, suicidal arsenic intoxication in which death occurred about 1 week after ingestion despite intensive care.
Abstract
A 25-year-old man weighing 65 kg ingested 8 g of di- arsenic-trioxide with suicidal intentions. Three hours later, the onset of digestive distress with abdominal pain and vomiting occurred. Treatment included gastric lavage and a gastronomy. The man had a clinical picture of hepatonephritis and encephalopathy. External examination of the cadaver revealed mild jaundice, edema of the penis and testicles, and multiple petechiae. Significant dermoepidermic separation was evident on the right and left flanks. The esophagus was congested, especially at the subnucleus level, and the stomach revealed panparietal necrosis. Diffused hepatic steatosis was determined, centrolobular veins were moderately dilated, pericentral lobular hepatocytal ridges were atrophic, and sinusoids were dilated. The kidneys revealed a simple glomerular form of congestion. Forensic and toxicological aspects of acute arsenic intoxication are discussed, and it is pointed out that acute arsenic intoxication is not uncommon. 24 references and 11 tables