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An Association With Cutaneous Lesions and Respiratory Failure

Michael Newhouse, MD; David McEvoy, MD; Donald Rosenthal, MD

Arch Dermatol. 1978;114(10):1516-1519.

Abstract
• Striking cutaneous lesions and death owing to respiratory failure occurred in a middle-aged woman eight weeks after initial cutaneous contact with the herbicide paraquat (1, 1 ' dimethyl-4, 4'dipyridylium dichloride). While similar changes have been described in animals, to our knowledge, serious morbidity or mortality owing to percutaneous absorption has not been described in man.

This case report illustrates the extreme toxicity of this herbicide and demonstrates that lethal quantities of the drug may be absorbed from apparently trivial skin wounds.

Stricter precautions, including the mandatory use of protective clothing, should be recommended whenever this material is used.

(Arch Dermatol 114:1516-1519, 1978)

Author Affiliations
From the Departments of Medicine (Drs Newhouse and McEvoy) and Dermatology (Dr Rosenthal), St Joseph's Hospital and McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Dr McEvoy is now in private practice in Brisbane, Australia.

Footnotes
Accepted for publication May 24, 1978.

Read in part at a meeting of the Canadian Dermatological Association, Vancouver, British Columbia, June 1973.

Reprint request to 143 James St S, Suite 520, Hamilton, Ontario L8P 3A1, Canada (Dr Rosenthal).

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