Fatal rifampicin poisoning. Apropos of a case
Poitrineau, Y.; Barthélémy, J.; Rouby, D.; Fauron, P.; Barrau, P.; Beligon, C.
Therapie 48(3): 271-273
1993
ISSN/ISBN: 0040-5957 PMID: 8140570 Document Number: 405633
Successful suicide attempts by rifampicin are not commonly reported in literature. Fatal cases and mechanisms of death are most of the time unexplained. We report a suicidal case in a 33-aged man with fatal course occurring 27 hours after acute overdosage with 15 g rifampicin. Criterias of prognostic value are discussed: clinical signs in particular the redman syndrome, and biological data. None of them allows us to prevent fatal issue but, since cardiac arrest of unknown origin may rapidly occur, admission in intensive care must be carried out promptly with a total dose absorbed of 12 g and/or evident clinical signs.