Brain damage due to paraquat poisoning: a fatal case with neuropathological examination of the brain

A 20-year-old man committed suicide by drinking 50-100 ml of a 20% solution of Paraquat (Gramoxone). He died 24 days later from progressive pulmonary fibrosis (Paraquat lung) despite intensive therapy to combat the toxicity of the poison to lung, kidney, and liver. At necropsy, brain damage was found in the form of moderate neuronal depletion, probably secondary to anoxia, and damage to the central white matter and particularly the brain around the lateral and third ventricles. Examination of the brain by electron microscopy showed oedema and destruction of myelin with abundant myelin breakdown products, and astrocytic fibrous gliosis.