The phosphorus burn and its specific treatment (a biochemical, histological, electron microscopy and radioactive study)

Abstract

Yellow phosphorus is known to cause a severe specific burn, which may result in death even when a relatively small area (12–15 per cent) of the body surface is affected. Biochemical studies and both light and electron microscopy as well as radioactive phosphorus study indicate primary renal damage followed by functional alterations, diffuse liver changes and severe aberrations in the blood and urine composition of experimental animals with phosphorus burns. The early death is more likely to be caused by primary renal alterations and cardiac standstill from potassium intoxication rather than by hypovolaemic shock and septicaemia. A suspension of 5 per cent sodium bicarbonate plus 1 per cent hydroxyethyl-cellulose plus 2 per cent copper sulphate was shown to fulfil the requirements of a satisfactory antidote.