Human fluoroacetate poisoning - A case series of 36 patients in Vietnam - Toxicology Reports 16 (2026) 102189

Sep 29, 2026

Uploaded by dawugda

Fluoroacetate poisoning is a rare but potentially lethal condition. A retrospective review included 36 consecutive patients with confirmed poisoning treated at the Poison Control Center, Bach Mai Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam, from June 2023 to December 2024. Most patients were asymptomatic on admission, with seizures and altered consciousness in a smaller proportion, and ICU care was required in a subset. No deaths occurred, and supportive management with early decontamination and correction of metabolic abnormalities was associated with favorable short-term outcomes.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages3

Reading Time8 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Methods

Toxicology Reports 16 (2026) 102189 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Toxicology Reports journal [homepage:](homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/toxrep)[ www.elsevier.com/locate/toxrep](homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/toxrep) | Human fluoroacetate poisoning: A case series of 36 patients in Vietnam
Nguyen Dang Duca,*, Lam Nguyen Hong Anhb, Lam Nguyen Hong Khanhc, Nguyen Dang Bach d
a Poison Control Center, Bach Mai Hospital, Hanoi, Viet Nam
b Thai Nguyen University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Thai Nguyen, Viet Nam c Vinh University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Nghe An, Viet Nam
d Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi, Viet Nam | | | | --- | --- | --- | | A R T I C L E I N F O | | A B S T R A C T | | Handling Editor: Dr. L.H. Lash | | Fluoroacetate poisoning is a rare but potentially lethal condition. We retrospectively reviewed 36 consecutive patients (27 males and 9 females) with confirmed poisoning treated at the Poison Control Center, Bach Mai Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam, from June 2023 to December 2024. The mean age was 35.4 ± 12.6 years. The median time from ingestion to hospital admission was 3.5 h. On admission, 69.4 % of patients were asymptomatic, 22.2 % had seizures, and 8.3 % presented with altered consciousness. The mean Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score was 13.9 ± 2.0 (range 5–15). Median serum creatinine and creatine kinase (CK) levels were 72 µmol/L and 155 U/L, respectively; 16.7 % of patients had CK > 1000 U/L. Median ionized calcium was 1.015 mmol/L, and 19.4 % had serum lactate ≥ 2 mmol/L. Gastric lavage and activated charcoal were administered in 44.4 % and 36.1 % of cases, respectively. Six patients (16.7 %) required intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and no deaths occurred. Overall, most patients presented early with mild manifestations and had favorable short-term outcomes under supportive management. | | Keywords:
Fluoroacetate poisoning
Sodium fluoroacetate
Vietnam
Clinical features
ICU admission
Outcome | | | 1. Introduction Fluoroacetate (commonly as sodium fluoroacetate,“1080”), a potent metabolic poison, inhibits the tricarboxylic acid cycle through aconitase blockade, resulting in cellular energy failure and severe metabolic derangements [1,2]. It has been widely used as a rodenticide in several countries, although its use is banned or restricted in many regions because of its high toxicity to humans and animals [3,4]. Human fluoroacetate poisoning remains uncommon but carries a high risk of mortality due to refractory seizures and cardiovascular collapse [5,6]. Reported outbreaks have occurred in China, Brazil, and South Africa, often linked to accidental or deliberate ingestion of contaminated food or illegal pesticides [7,8]. However, data from Southeast Asia are extremely limited, and no systematic clinical series from Vietnam has been previously reported. Management of fluoroacetate poisoning remains largely supportive, as no specific antidote is available [9,10]. Early decontamination and correction of metabolic abnormalities may improve outcomes, but prognostic indicators are poorly defined [11,12]. This study describes 36 (27 males and 9 females) consecutive patients with confirmed fluoroacetate poisoning treated at a national referral toxicology center in Vietnam from June 2023 to December 2024. To our knowledge, this is the first clinical case series from Vietnam, aiming to characterize the clinical spectrum, laboratory findings, management strategies, and factors associated with intensive care unit admission [13,14]. 2. Methods We conducted a retrospective case series including all consecutive patients with confirmed fluoroacetate poisoning treated at the Poison Control Center, Bach Mai Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam, between 1 June 2023 and 31 December 2024. Patients were eligible if they presented with a clinical picture consistent with acute fluoroacetate ingestion and had laboratory confirmation of fluoroacetate in blood specimens perfo

FAQs

What is the main clinical focus of this case series?

The study characterizes the clinical spectrum, laboratory findings, management strategies, and factors associated with intensive care unit admission in patients with confirmed fluoroacetate poisoning in Vietnam.

How were patients identified and confirmed for inclusion?

Patients were retrospectively included if they had acute fluoroacetate ingestion consistent clinical features and laboratory confirmation of fluoroacetate in blood specimens using GC–MS at the hospital toxicology laboratory.

What outcomes were reported for the 36 patients?

Most patients presented early with mild manifestations and favorable short-term outcomes under supportive management; ICU admission was needed for some patients and no deaths occurred.

Sep 29, 2026

Uploaded by dawugda