Survival after severe acute chromic acid poisoning complicated with renal and liver failure

Intern Med. 2009;48(9):711-5. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.48.1943. Epub 2009 May 1.

Abstract

Chromic acid is a strong metal acid and acute poisoning is very rare, but very serious with severe skin injury, renal and liver failure. The majority of published cases were suicide attempts with lethal outcomes. We describe the case of a 55-year-old man who had accidentally taken a sip of 20% chromic acid (estimated chromium intake: 2.3 g). Renal and liver failure were not present at presentation, but appeared later in the course of disease. He was treated with hemodialysis, no chelating agents or other methods for enhancing elimination were used. Liver and renal function improved over the next 30 days and the patient was discharged after 45 days of hospitalization with no need for dialysis. In the follow-up period of eight months his renal function remained depressed, but stable.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Acute Kidney Injury / chemically induced*
  • Acute Kidney Injury / diagnosis*
  • Acute Kidney Injury / therapy
  • Chromates / poisoning*
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Liver Failure / chemically induced*
  • Liver Failure / diagnosis*
  • Liver Failure / therapy
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Renal Dialysis / methods
  • Survival

Substances

  • Chromates
  • chromic acid