Serum amylase a prognostic indicator in acute organophosphorous compound poisoning

Abstract

Background: OPC is being considered as the most important agent of self-poisoning among the younger generation people because of its easy availability. Recent studies have reported an early increase in serum amylase levels among patients with OP compound poisoning and found hyperamylasemia to be closely associated with the clinical signs and symptoms and more so with respiratory failure. Aim: To study the serum amylase levels among patients with OPC poisoning and correlate its levels with the clinical features on the day of presentation. Methodology: A prospective longitudinal study was conducted for a period of two years in a Government medical college hospital at TamilNadu. A total of 278 patients reported to our hospital with history of OPC poisoning during the said period among which 157 patients satisfying our inclusion and exclusion criteria are selected as our study subjects. Severity of OPC intoxication was measured using POP (Peradeniya OP poisoning) scale and it was graded as mild, moderate and severe. Serum amylase level was measured for all the patients on the day of admission.