Pharmacological treatments of paraquat poisoning.

A large number of pharmacological techniques aimed at modifying paraquat toxicity have been investigated. There is no convincing controlled evidence that any are unequivocally useful. Studies with an ascorbic acid and riboflavin combination appear effective in rats, and there is a suggestion that cyclophosphamide and dexamethasone may in some way alter paraquat toxicity in man and by pretreatment, but not concurrent treatment, also in the rat. Further controlled studies are required of these treatments in patients who are potentially salvageable. There is a need for a rapid paraquat assay for clinical use in order that patients in this category can be identified quickly and included in appropriate controlled studies.