Intermediate syndrome after organophosphate intoxication in patient with end-stage renal disease

A 42-year-old woman with a 24-year history of systemic lupus erythematous and lupus nephritis for 8 years who had been receiving regular hemodialysis for 4 years for nonoligoric end-stage renal disease (ESRD) ingested about 100 mL of 40.8% chlorpyrifos in a suicide attempt. On admission to our emergency department, she was drowsy. Gastric lavage, activated charcoal, pralidoxime (PAM), and atropine were administered 4 h later. Her consciousness level improved gradually with treatment, which included hemodialysis. However, on the second hospital day, intermittent fever to 38.4 degrees C, sore throat, and trismus were noted. About 45 h after chlorpyrifos ingestion, the patient developed profound motor paralysis followed by respiratory arrest, consistent with the diagnosis of intermediate syndrome (IMS), even with adequate atropine and PAM. Chorealike involuntary movements of her upper limbs were noticed on the fifth day. Intermittent tonic-clonic seizures, each attack lasting for 3 to 5 min, appeared on the 13th day, which responded well to intravenous diazepam and phenytoin. She was discharged on the 18th day. This case suggests that patients with ESRD suffering chlorpyrifos intoxication are at risk of IMS. Prompt endotracheal intubation, intensive care, and hemodialysis are necessary for life support.