Aspirin poisoning during pregnancy: increased fetal sensitivity

Descriptions of salicylate poisoning during pregnancy are rare and unique features of perinatal physiology predict an increased sensitivity of the fetus to aspirin poisoning. A 17-year-old, 37-week pregnant woman presented to the hospital stating that she had ingested 50 aspirin tablets per day for 1 month in an attempt to harm her baby and herself. Ultrasound showed fetal demise. Serum salicylate was 620 mg/L with an anion gap of 22.6 and the following blood gases: pO2 108 mm Hg, pCO2 15mm Hg, pH 7.34, and HCO3 8.8 mmol/L. She was successfully treated with alkaline diuresis followed by hemodialysis. She spontaneously delivered a macerated stillborn 2380-g fetus. Autopsy revealed diffuse petechiae in the lungs, heart, thymus, and kidneys. Salicylic acid was found in the cord blood, but quantification was not possible due to the small volume of the blood sample. Our patient supports the hypothesis that the fetus is at greater risk than the mother in salicylate poisoning during pregnancy. Consideration should be given to emergent delivery of term or near-term, aspirin-poisoned fetuses.