Prothrombin Time Prolongation in Patients with Acute Intentional Anti-coagulant Rodenticide Intoxication

Aims: Aim of this study is to determine effects of acute intentional ingestion of superwarfarin compounds for suicidal intentions on homeostatic profile of patients.

Study Design: This is a retrospective observational study.

Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at Jinnah Postgraduate medical center in Karachi, Pakistan during the period from 15th October 2015 to 27th December 2015.

Methodology: 74 patients with rodenticide intoxication were included in this study. PT was ordered at the time of presentation. aPTT was done only in few patients because of financial constraints. Symptoms at the time of presentation were recorded. Results were analyzed using SPSS v.20.

Results: 52.7% were males while 47.3% were females. Most common symptom was found to be vomiting which was positive in 38.8% of individuals. No bleeding abnormality was recorded in any patient. Mean PT among patients was found to be 10.51 seconds +- 2.38 (control = 11 seconds). PT >14 was found in 5 individuals. Mean INR was found to be 0.94+-0.24. INR greater than 1.5 was found only in 2 individuals.

Conclusion: Majority of studies report no bleeding abnormality in majority of patients associated with rodenticide intoxication while some studies report minor and major symptoms associated with it. However no bleeding abnormality was found in any patient of our study.