An interesting case of acute poisoning by chromate compounds is report
ed. A 51-year-old man committed suicide by ingesting a fatal dose of s
odium chromate solution. He unexpectedly lost consciousness 6 h after
the ingestion and died similar to 20.5 h later. An examination of the
blood showed noticeable hepatic damage and thrombocytopenia. The postm
ortem examination revealed extensive bleeding in the alimentary tract
and a severe hepatic lesion due to hepatocellular necrosis. However, t
he renal disorder was unusually light in the microscopic and clinical
findings. Moreover, the renal lesion was observed mainly in the distal
tubules instead of the proximal tubules which is more typical in case
s of acute poisonings by diverse heavy metals including chromium. The
patient's death was assumed to have been caused by circulatory collaps
e due to internal bleeding and the direct toxicity of chromate compoun
ds with hepatic malfunction and possibly disseminated intravascular co
agulation (DIC).