Liver unit admission following paracetamol overdose with concentrations below current UK treatment thresholds.

BACKGROUND

It has been suggested that current UK thresholds for treating paracetamol overdose should be reduced, following case reports of patients developing fatal liver failure after presenting with paracetamol concentrations below these thresholds.

AIM

To determine the frequency of severe liver dysfunction following paracetamol overdose when paracetamol concentrations are below current UK antidote thresholds.

DESIGN

Retrospective case note review.

METHODS

Details were collected from all patients admitted to liver transplant units in Newcastle and Edinburgh with paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity.

RESULTS

Of 696 patients admitted to the two liver units following paracetamol overdose, 14 presented between 4 and 15 h after overdose with paracetamol concentrations below current UK treatment thresholds (estimated annual population rate 0.15/million person-years). Over the period of study, >100 000 presentations with paracetamol overdose would be expected in the catchment populations for these liver units.

DISCUSSION

In view of the rarity of this event, this research does not suggest a need to lower the current thresholds for antidotal treatment.