ACUTE CHLOROQUINE INTOXICATION

Acute chloroquine intoxication is responsible for grave cardiovascular disturbances which may be rapidly life-threatening. For this reason, any suspicion of acute chloroquine intoxication requires hospitalisati on in an intensive care unit for a minimum of 12 hours. Cardiovascular toxicity is linked to a potent membrane-stabilizing effect, which is also responsible for transfer-dependent hypokalemia, the degree of whi ch is directly associated with the gravity of the intoxication. Blood chloroquine concentration confirms the intoxication and is likewise cl osely correlated to gravity. Treatment of this intoxication, based on vascular repletion, adrenalin, assisted ventilation and diazepam has m arkedly improved the prognosis of these intoxications, overall mortali ty for all degrees of intoxication nonetheless remains to the order of 10%.