Pyridoxine therapy in a patient with severe hydrazine sulfate toxicity

Abstract

Objective: To report hydrazine sulfate as a cause of severe encephalopathy and to report its response to high-dose pyridoxine therapy.

Design: Case report.

Setting: An adult six-bed medical/surgical intensive care unit of a general hospital.

Patient: One patient who developed severe encephalopathy after hydrazine sulfate.

Intervention: 5 g i.v. pyridoxine.

Measurements and main results: After 180 mg/day for 2 wks followed by 360 mg/day of hydrazine sulfate ingestion, our patient suffered severe encephalopathy. He received mechanical ventilation with attendant supportive measures and high-dose pyridoxine. The patient's encephalopathy resolved 24 hrs after receiving pyridoxine.

Conclusion: Severe encephalopathy could result from hydrazine sulfate toxicity. High-dose pyridoxine is an effective treatment to reverse this encephalopathy.