Therapeutic effects of oral liothyronine on aluminum phosphide poisoning as an adjuvant therapy: A clinical trial

[helvella]

Over the years, we have often seen thyroid hormones mentioned in fields of medicines other than endocrinology. In particular, cardiac medics have often seemed to understand some things better than others.

This paper really surprised me as I don't remember any previous paper which even hinted at this use of liothyronine.

Although this paper is specifically about aluminum phosphide, I think many UK readers would be asking whether it could have been used in relation to the Camelford water supply issue - though that was aluminium sulphate.

Therapeutic effects of oral liothyronine on aluminum phosphide poisoning as an adjuvant therapy: A clinical trial

MH Goharbari, F Taghaddosinejad, M Arefi, ...

First Published February 23, 2017 Research Article Find in PubMed

doi.org/10.1177/09603271176...

Article information

Free Access

Abstract

Background:

In aluminum phosphide (AlP) poisoning, death is mainly due to cardiovascular failure and refractory acute heart failure. There is a lot of evidence showing thyroid hormones have cardioprotective effects.

Objective:

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of oral liothyronine in the treatment of AlP poisoning.

Methods:

Twenty-four patients from intensive care unit of Baharloo Hospital, Tehran, Iran, were included based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. They were randomly divided into two parallel groups of 12 cases and 12 controls. Intervention in the case group was administration of 50 µg liothyronine via nasogastric tube after gastric lavage, in the first 6 h of poisoning. In both groups, the routine treatment of AlP poisoning was performed. Blood samples were prepared at the beginning of the study and after 12 h. Patients were followed up till discharge from the hospital or death.

Results:

The findings demonstrated that oral liothyronine was able to significantly improve systolic blood pressure, arterial blood pH, and total thiol molecules and also could decrease lipid peroxidation, increase catalase activity, and prevent further decline in total antioxidant capacity.

Conclusion:

Liothyronine administration is effective in controlling AlP poisoning and can improve patients’ outcome.

Keywords

Aluminum phosphide, liothyronine, oxidative stress, phosphine, poisoning, thyroid hormones

Full access here:

journals.sagepub.com/doi/fu...

[radd]

helvella,

Wow, there’s some forward thinking testing kits used in that research, demonstrating once again the depth crucial T3 will perform at, but also NAC (which many members use), magnesium, etc .

A sort of functional meets conventional report on some extremely unfortunate individuals. Some died before the trial and ‘All of the patients had attempted suicide’ ☹️.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to radd]

Yes - it is a remarkable paper for several reasons.

I'd never heard of aluminium phosphide being poisonous.

[radd in reply to helvella]

Its a remarkable paper experimenting where others fear to tread.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to radd]

I have noticed a small number of Iranian papers over the years. They certainly have some bright and on-the-ball doctors.