Paraquat intoxication during pregnancy: a report of 9 cases

The details of nine patients who deliberately ingested paraquat (24% solution) while pregnant are presented. Two patients refused treatment. Paraquat levels in maternal, fetal and cord blood in 1 case shows that paraquat crosses the placenta and is concentrated to levels 4-6 times greater than the maternal blood. Amnioscopy in another case showed paraquat levels in amniotic fluid nearly twice that of maternal blood. All fetuses died, whether or not emergency cesarean operation was performed. The condition of the fetus worsened at delivery, or in utero if the gestational age was greater than 30 weeks. One of the 2 survivors has had a normal pregnancy since, with no evidence of teratogenicity from the earlier paraquat intoxication. This patient has shown a gradual return to normal spirometry values from the marked reduction that occurred at the time of paraquat intoxication.