[A case report. Unconscious patient with neon yellow skin was intoxicated with dipyridamole].

A 66-year old man called for an ambulance from his home because of acute chest pain. When the crew arrived he was unresponsive and hypotensive. Sublingual nitroglycerine was given and subsequently the patient collapsed into circulatory failure and respiratory arrest. He was intubated and transported to the nearest hospital. The severe hypotension was combated with fluids and norepinephrine. During the next few hours his skin gradually turned intensely yellow, as did the urine. Acute myocardial infarction also occurred and renal failure developed. The cause of the neon-yellow colour was a complete mystery until a police patrol sent to his apartment found several empty packages of dipyridamole (Persantin Depot) corresponding to 34 g, an overdose seven times higher than any previous case reported in the literature. This drug has a distinct yellowish colour. The patient's condition gradually improved and he could be extubated within a week. Haemodialysis was needed for two weeks because of acute tubular necrosis after the prolonged period of hypotension, but thereafter he recovered.