Acute renal failure inacase ofparaquat poisoning with relative absence ofpulmonary toxicity

bipyridylium dichloride) iswidely usedasaherbicide, andisusually marketed either asa20%(w/v) solution ('Gramoxone') orinagranular form(25-80 g/kg, for example 'Weedol', 'Pathclear'). Toxicity isusually seen following ingestion, andmayrange frommild (ingestion of 40mgparaquat ion/kg bodyweight),' withthelatter commonly proving fatal. Inaddition tointense local irritation ofthe mouth,oropharynx andoesophagus, multiple organ(cardiac, respiratory, hepatic andrenal) failure mayoccur, although pulmonary features predominate andaretheusual cause ofdeath. Wedescribe acaseofsevere paraquat poisoning complicated bythedevelopment ofoliguric renal failure, andinwhichthere wasonlymildpulmonarytoxicity. Thepatient madeacomplete recovery. Casereport