2 CASES OF GLUFOSINATE POISONING WITH LATE-ONSET CONVULSIONS

Glufosinate ammonium (GLA), the active ingredient in the non-selective herbicide BASTA (18.5% GLA), Is a phosphinic acid analogue of glutami c acid. We report 2 cases of GLA poisoning with late onset convulsions and increased serum CK in spite of low blood concentrations of GLA af ter hemodialysis. A 69-y-old female was admitted to the emergency depa rtment after taking 500 mi of BASTA. On arrival she was conscious, and gut decontamination, hemodialysis and hemoperfusion were performed. H owever, 8 1/2 hours after ingestion, general convulsions occurred. Her serum CK increased to a peak of 24,900 IU/L on the third day of admis sion. An 87-y-old male was admitted to the emergency department 3 1/2 hours after taking 200 mi of BASTA and receiving gastric lavage at a l ocal emergency room. On arrival he was conscious, and serial activated charcoal and hemodialysis was performed. Blood concentration of GLA a fter hemodialysis decreased from 1.56 mu g/ml to 0.68 mu g/ml. Thirty hours after admission he had general convulsions. GLA was not detected in the cerebrospinal fluid 6 h after the convulsions. His serum CK in creased to a peak of 17,870 IU/L on the fifth day of admission.