1 Urine specimens of 8 organophosphate-poisoned patients on treatment with large doses of atropine were screened for atropine metabolites using thin-layer chromatography. Only atropine was detected.
2 High performance liquid chromatography of urine specimens of a poisoned patient receiving large doses of atropine likewise detected only 3H-atropine after administration of 30 μCi 3H-atropine-sulphate. In the urine of a normal human volunteer treated with a single dose of 3H-atropine, 5 metabolic products were detected by this method.
3 It is concluded that acute organophosphate-poisoning blocks atropine metabolism by inhibiting the hepatic microsomal enzymes.
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References
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Fell, A.F., Johnstone, S.J.K. & Smith, G. (1979). The analysis of atropine sulphate and its degradation products by reversed-phase high pressure liquid chromatography. J. Pharm. Pharmacol., 31, (Suppl.) 20 P.
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Uppal, R., Sharma, P.R. & Chaudhury, R.R. (1982). Effect of pesticide exposure on human microsomal enzyme induction. Human Toxicol.1, 155-158.
