Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dzt6s Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T09:10:13.822Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Toxicology and the vulnerable brain

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 September 2015

Summary

Toxicology is one of the eldest areas of special attention in medicine and pharmacy. In the past, forensic toxicology was the most important part, but nowadays, at least in the Netherlands, the clinical, occupational and environmental toxicology have the centre of attention.

The brain plays its own role in the clinical toxicology. There the intoxication can take place, it can be the basis of the peripheral symptoms of the intoxication or it can be the cause of the intoxication, e.g. at a suicidal attempt or the hospital addiction syndrome.

The somatic treatment of an intoxicated patient includes in the first place the stabilization of the patient (cardio-vascular, ventilation and central effects); then the removal of the poison from the surroundings and out of the patient by different suitable methods and finally the symptomatic treatment, sometimes with antidotes.

In the Netherlands, hardly any intoxication is fatal, when the patient arrives in the hospital in time, or euthanasia took place on purpose.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Scandinavian College of Neuropsychopharmacology 1995

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Literatuur

1.Kerkhof, AHM. Over de verhouding tussen gerechtelijke genees-kunde en openbare gezondheidszorg. In: Cohen, BAJ, Lelieveld, HJ, red. Inleiding tot de Forensische Geneeskunde. Maatschappij en Gezondheid 10. Zeist: Kerkebosch; 1990: 1142.Google Scholar
2.Halbach, S. Amalgam tooth fillins and man's mercury burden. Hum Exp Toxicol 1994; 13:496501.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
3.Sangster, B. Klinisch toxicologie. Toxicologische Reeks 6. Wageningen: Pudoc, 1987.Google Scholar
4.Uges, DRA. Orientierende Angaben zu therapeutischen und toxischen Konzentrationen von Arzneimitteln und Giften in Blut, Serum oder Urine. Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft Mitteilung XV der Senatskommission für Klinisch-toxicologische Analytik. VCM 1990.Google Scholar
5.Van Heijst, ANP, Pikaar, SA. Vergiftigingen (Vademecum). Amsterdam: Elsevier, 1984.Google Scholar
6.Tempelaar, AF. Iatrogene schade en geneesmiddelen. [Iatrogenic damage and drugs]. Pharm Weekbl 1991; 126: 428–32.Google Scholar
7.Uges, DRA. Therapeutic Drug Monitoring. In: Persijn, JP: SAN Laboratoriumboek 1992. Een handleiding voor laboratoriumdia-gnostiek in de eerste lijn. Haarlem: Samenwerkende Artsenlaboratoria in Nederland, 1992:365–82.Google Scholar
8.Baldessarini. Drugs and the treatment of psychiatric disorders. In: Goodman, Y, Gilman, A, Rail, TW, Nies, AS, Taylor, P, red. The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 8th, Ed. Chpt 18. New York: Pergamon Press, 1990: 383–05.Google Scholar
9.Martindale, The Extra Pharmacopoeia. 30 Ed. Londen: Pharm Press, 1993: 488–92.Google Scholar
10.Van Kesteren, RG, Uges, DRA. Clinical and pharmaceutical aspects in acute poisoning. Pharm Weekbl Sci Ed 1992; 14: 7882.Google ScholarPubMed
11.Ellenhorn, MJ, Barceloux, DG. Medical Toxicology; Diagnosis and treatment of human poisoning. New York: Elsevier, 1988: 42–6.Google Scholar
12.Ritto, DB, Ritto, D. Complications of ‘ecstasy’ misuse. Lancet 1992; II: 725–6.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
13.KNMP, Informatorium Medicamentorum 1994: 190218.Google Scholar
14.Ludewig, R, Lohs, K. Akute Vergiftigungen. 7e Ed. Jena: Gustav Fischer 1988: 190–4.Google Scholar
15.Sangster, B, Van Heijst, ANP, Zimmerman, ANE. Vergifting door orphenadrine (Disipal®). Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd 1978; 122: 988–93.Google Scholar
16.Newton, RW. Physostigmine salicylate in the treatment of tricyclic antidepressant overdosage. JAMA 1975; 231: 941–3.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
17.Rosenberg, PJ, Livingstone, DJ, McLellan, BA. Effect of whole-bowel irrigation on the antidotal efficacy of oral activated charcoal. Ann Emerg Med 1988; 17: 681–3.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
18.Orisakwe, OE, Ogbonna, E. Effect of saline cathartics on gastrointestinal transit time of activated charcoal. Hum exp Toxicol 1993; 12: 403–5.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
19.Berlinger, WG, Spector, R, Goldberg, MJ, Johnson, GF, Quee, CK, Berg, MJ. Enhancement of theophylline clearance by oral activated charcoal. Clin Pharmacol Ther 1983; 33: 351–4.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
20.Uges, DRA. Differences between clinical and forensic toxicology. In: Nagata, T, ed. Proceedings of the 30th International TIAFT Meeting. Fukuoka: 1993, 531–9.Google Scholar
21.Uges, DRA, Greijdanus, B. Euthanasia: A challenge for the forensic toxicologist. Forensic Sci 1990; 35: 1424–30.Google ScholarPubMed