BACKGROUND: To describe characteristics of acute poisoning with liquid ecstasy (gammahydroxybutyrate, GHB). PATIENTS AND METHOD: Epidemiological and clinical data of patients with acute GHB poisoning seen at emergency department (ED) along one year were collected. RESULTS: 22 patients were included. Typical profile corresponds to a young male, who consults on weekend, at night, complaining of a marked decreased level of consciousness. Patients refer coingestion of other drugs and typically regain consciousness spontaneously in a short time. CONCLUSION: The frequency of GHB poisoning has increased notably in our environment. GHB poisoning must be considered on the differential diagnostic of coma of unknown origin in young patients attended in ED.
BACKGROUND: To describe characteristics of acute poisoning with liquid ecstasy (gammahydroxybutyrate, GHB). PATIENTS AND METHOD: Epidemiological and clinical data of patients with acute GHB poisoning seen at emergency department (ED) along one year were collected. RESULTS: 22 patients were included. Typical profile corresponds to a young male, who consults on weekend, at night, complaining of a marked decreased level of consciousness. Patients refer coingestion of other drugs and typically regain consciousness spontaneously in a short time. CONCLUSION: The frequency of GHBpoisoning has increased notably in our environment. GHBpoisoning must be considered on the differential diagnostic of coma of unknown origin in young patients attended in ED.