Original article / research
Year : 2026 Month : January Volume : 15 Issue : 1 Page : BO01 - BO06 Full Version

Spectrum of Biochemical Presentations in Patients with Paraquat Poisoning at a Tertiary Care Hospital in West Bengal, India: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Ashis Kumar Saha, Ankan Pathak, Prasun Chatterjee
1. Professor and Head, Department of Medicine, Jagannath Gupta Institute of Medical Sciences and Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal, India. 2. Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Jagannath Gupta Institute of Medical Sciences and Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal, India. 3. Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Jagannath Gupta Institute of Medical Sciences and Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
 
Correspondence Address :
Ashis Kumar Saha,
P5 Block B Lake Town, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
E-mail: asissaha2008@gmail.com
 
ABSTRACT
: Introduction: Paraquat has been one of the most widely used herbicides in developing countries, particularly in Asia, and is notorious for its extremely high fatality rate due to multi-organ toxicity. In India, most available data are limited to small series or case reports, with very little systematic evidence emerging from Eastern India. Understanding the biochemical spectrum of paraquat poisoning is therefore crucial for guiding early diagnosis, management, and prevention strategies in this vulnerable population.

Aim: To analyse the biochemical spectrum of organ dysfunction in patients with paraquat poisoning admitted to a tertiary care hospital in Eastern India.

Materials and Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted at Jagannath Gupta Institute of Medical Sciences and Hospital, West Bengal, India, from November 2023 to July 2025. Twenty-five patients aged 19-45 years with intentional paraquat ingestion were included. Data on demographics, ingested doses of the poison, and liver and renal function tests were collected from the patients. Renal impairments were assessed by measuring serum creatinine at the time of admission and 48 hours later. Hepatic injuries were evaluated using Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and bilirubin levels. Pulse oximetry was performed to measure oxygen saturation. Statistical analysis was conducted using Pearson’s correlation coefficient and p-values.

Results: Most patients (14, 56%) were female, and 21 patients (84%) were aged 20-40 years. Twenty patients (80%) consumed more than 40 grams of paraquat, and 88% presented within six hours of ingestion. Serum creatinine showed a strong positive correlation with the ingested dose at admission (r=0.93) and at 48 hours (r=0.92). Oxygen saturation (SpO2) levels demonstrated a strong negative correlation with the ingested dose (r=-0.91). Correlations of liver enzymes with the ingested dose were weak and non-significant. Male patients had significantly higher creatinine levels.

Conclusion: Paraquat poisoning causes severe renal and moderate hepatic dysfunction, with a high mortality rate. Early intervention is critical, although haemodialysis did not halt renal deterioration. The present study provides region-specific biochemical insights from Eastern India.
Keywords : Liver dysfunction, Renal failure, Respiratory dysfunction
DOI and Others : DOI: 10.7860/NJLM/2026/82493.2950 Date of Submission: Aug 04, 2025 Date of Peer Review: Sep 07, 2025 Date of Acceptance: Oct 27, 2025 Date of Publishing: Jan 01, 2026 AUTHOR DECLARATION: • Financial or Other Competing Interests: None • Was Ethics Committee Approval obtained for this study? Yes • Was informed consent obtained from the subjects involved in the study? Yes • For any images presented appropriate consent has been obtained from the subjects. Yes PLAGIARISM CHECKING METHODS: • Plagiarism X-checker: Aug 13, 2025 • Manual Googling: Oct 16, 2025 • iThenticate Software: Oct 25, 2025 (8%) ETYMOLOGY: Author Origin EMENDATIONS: 8
 
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