Acute poisoning with Copper Sulphate: a clinical case

Authors

  • Rosário Lebre Interna Complementar de Medicina Interna, Serviço de Medicina III dos Hospitais da Universidade de Coimbra
  • Victor Ruiz Interno Complementar de Oncologia, Serviço de Medicina III dos Hospitais da Universidade de Coimbra
  • Sara Leitão Assistente Hospitalar de Medicina Interna, Serviço de Medicina III dos Hospitais da Universidade de Coimbra
  • Arsénio Santos Assistente Hospitalar Graduado de Medicina Interna, Serviço de Medicina III dos Hospitais da Universidade de Coimbra
  • Rui Santos Professor Auxiliar da F.M.U.C. e Chefe de Serviço de Medicina Interna, HUC
  • Armando Porto Professor Catedrático da F.M.U.C. e Director do Serviço de Medicina III, HUC

Keywords:

poisoning, copper, haemolysis

Abstract

Acute copper poisoning is rare and frequently accidental. Nauseas, vomiting, diarrhoea and haemolytic anaemia are its usual
manifestations, while severe poisoning results in renal and /or hepatic insufficiency and coma.
The authors describe a clinical case of voluntary acute copper
sulphate poisoning manifested by gastrointestinal symptoms
(nauseas, vomiting of a green liquid and diarrhoea), hypotension,
jaundice and mental dysfunction. The laboratory results revealed
a transfusion dependent haemolytic anaemia, renal dysfunction
(rise of blood urea nitrogen and creatinine, as well as haematuria)
and elevated serum and urine copper levels, reaching 2.6 mg/L
(0.7-1.4) and 1.1 mg/24h, (< 0.1 mg/24h). The patient was
treated with D-penicillamine with a favourable outcome.

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References

Casarett & Doull’s. Toxicology: The Basic Science of Poisons. 6th edition. New York: McGraw-Hill 2001: 840-841.

Nelson LS. Toxicologic Emergencies. 7th edition. New York: McGraw-Hill 2002: 1262-1271.

Barceloux DG. Copper. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol 1999; 37 (2): 217-230.

Health effects of excess copper. Copper in DrinKing Water. www.nap.edu/openbook/0309069394. The National Academy of Sciences

James LP, Stowe CD, Argao E. Gastric Injury Following Copper Sulfate Ingestion. Pediatric Emerg Care 1999; 15 (6): 429-431.

Pankit AN, Bhave SA. Copper Metabolic Defects And Liver Disease: Enviromental Aspects. J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2002 ; 17 (3): 403-407.

Liu J, Kashimura S, Hara K, Zhang G. Death Following Cupric Sulfate Emesis. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol 2001; 39 (2): 161-163

Additional Files

Published

2005-12-30

How to Cite

1.
Lebre R, Ruiz V, Leitão S, Santos A, Santos R, Porto A. Acute poisoning with Copper Sulphate: a clinical case. RPMI [Internet]. 2005 Dec. 30 [cited 2024 Dec. 18];12(4):220-4. Available from: https://revista.spmi.pt/index.php/rpmi/article/view/1708

Issue

Vol. 12 No. 4 (2005): Outubro/ Dezembro

Section

Case Reports

License

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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