Paracetamol Overdose May Cause Transudative Pleural Effusion in Adults


AKBAŞ İ., KOÇAK A. O., GÜÇLÜ S., doğruyol s., ÇAKIR Z.

Journal of Emergency Medicine Case Reports, cilt.12, ss.41-44, 2021 (ESCI) identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Vaka Takdimi
  • Cilt numarası: 12
  • Basım Tarihi: 2021
  • Doi Numarası: 10.33706/jemcr.834306
  • Dergi Adı: Journal of Emergency Medicine Case Reports
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI)
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.41-44
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: paracetamol, acetaminophen, over dose, pleural effusion
  • Atatürk Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Paracetamol is the most widely used and prescribed drug word-wide. It is the most common cause of the poisoning and of the fatality due to the toxic administration throughout the world. A 34-year-old female patient applied to our ED with the complaint of swallowing 33 g of paracetamol. After routine toxicity treatment, on the third day of the hospitalization, dyspnea and pain on the right hemithorax and right flank occurred. Chest X-ray showed blunted right sinus. CT revealed bilateral pleural effusion. With thoracentesis, clear, colorless and odor-free fluid of about 500cc was drained. Laboratory examination of the fluid confirmed it as transudate. We believed pleural effusion is related to high-dose paracetamol intake and it occurred due to decrease in pleural permeability and the consequent decrease of the fluid absorption. In conclusion, high-dose intake of paracetamol might cause transudative pleural effusion as a complication.