Acute thallium intoxication: kinetic study of the relative efficacy of several antidotal treatments in rats.

Rats were administered a sublethal dose of thallium (12.35 mg/kg as aqueous thallous sulfate, Tl2SO4, equivalent to 10 mg Tl+/kg per os) on day 0. Urine and feces were collected separately every day for 8 days and analyzed by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Based on information in the literature, five antidotal treatments (dithizone, activated charcoal, furosemide, Prussian Blue, and a combination of Prussian Blue and furosemide) were compared with controls for their efficacy in reducing the total thallium body load. In the control group (C,n = 10) of an approximate administered dose of 2 mg, after 8 days 411 micrograms (21%) had been eliminated in the urine and 641 micrograms (32%) in the feces, making a total of 1,052 micrograms (53%). In the treated groups the effects were very significant and in accord with the mode of action of the antidotes: furosemide (a diuretic) only enhanced urinary elimination; activated charcoal and Prussian Blue (unabsorbed adsorbents) only increased fecal elimination; dithizone increased only urinary elimination, whereas combined treatment with Prussian Blue and furosemide increased elimination by both routes. At the end of 8 days the control group had only eliminated 53% of the dose; this was increased to 99% by dithizone, 93% by activated charcoal, 64% by furosemide, 82% by Prussian Blue and 92% by combining furosemide and Prussian Blue. In view of the inherent toxicity of dithizone, it is suggested that treatment with a combination of Prussian Blue-furosemide or with activated charcoal should be adequate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)