Musshoff Frank, Schmidt Peter, Daldrup Thomas, Madea Burkhard
Institutes of Legal Medicine, Bonn, Germany.
Am J Forensic Med Pathol. 2002 Dec;23(4):315-20. doi: 10.1097/01.PAF.0000043071.33751.12.
Deaths due to cyanide poisoning are relatively rare, largely owing to the restricted availability of cyanide. Nevertheless, the authors report five cases of cyanide fatalities occurring within a few months. Cyanide is one of the most rapidly acting poisons known and is still used for suicide and homicide. The discussion focuses on the circumstances, metabolic changes, pathophysiology, blood levels, diagnosis, and management of cyanide poisoning.
