Abstract

Glyphosate containing herbicides are an alternative to paraquat and have been widely used with increasing frequency in suicide attempts throughout Asia. It is an organophosphorus compound that is not a cholinesterase inhibitor. Daejangun powder consists of glyphosate ammonium, surfactant and another herbicide, oxyfluorfen. A 60-year-old man ingested about 300 g of Daejangun powder with 500 ml of water in a suicide attempt. He was brought to emergency room 6 hours after the ingestion and showed severe metabolic acidosis (pH 6.75), marked leukocytosis (WBC 35,800/$mm^3$), hypoglycemia (glucose 13 mg/dL) and increased liver enzymes (AST/ALT 1,683/418 IU/L). Later he developed aspiration pneumonia, acute renal failure and hyperchloremic acidosis. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy which performed 5 days after the ingestion revealed corrosive injuries (grade 1) in both esophagus and stomach. However, intensive treatment with supportive measures improved the abnormal findings almost completely 4 weeks after the ingestion.

• Keywords: Glyphosate;Oxyfluorfen;Metabolic acidosis;Renal failure;;