Extract: One hour after administration of a lethal dose of ferrous sulfate into the intestine, 10 dogs sustained a sharp decline in cardiac output (mean 57%), a lesser reduction of arterial blood pressure (mean 17%), and a marked elevation of total peripheral resistance (mean 100%). Thereafter, the cardiac output decreased more rapidly than did blood pressure. Total peripheral resistance remained elevated until death.Only minimal reduction in total blood volume (mean 9 %) was observed one hour after challenge, but the plasma volume was significantly reduced (24%). Largely as a result of the reduction in plasma volume, the total blood volume was 70% of the baseline level just before death.Speculation: It is unlikely that the simple early restoration of blood volume through plasma or plasma expanders would significantly alter the mortality in dogs poisoned with an LD100 dose of iron. This approach, however, could enhance the effectiveness of therapy with the promising chelating agent desferrioxa-mine. Desferrioxamine promotes the excretion of iron via the kidney. Early correction of blood volume deficits might maintain renal function for a sufficient length of time to permit excretion of critical quantities of iron.
展开▼
