Cholestyramine as an adsorbent in acute lindane poisoning: a murine model.

STUDY OBJECTIVES

To compare the effectiveness of single-dose cholestyramine versus single-dose activated charcoal in preventing clinical toxicity after acute lindane ingestion.

DESIGN

CD-1 mice received lindane by enteral (gavage) and parenteral (intraperitoneal) routes, followed by enteral administration of either cholestyramine (2.25 g/kg) or activated charcoal (2.25 g/kg), with subsequent observation for convulsions and death.

MEASUREMENTS

The doses of lindane at which 50% of mice developed convulsions (CD50) and at which 50% of mice died (LD50) were established and compared among control, charcoal-, and cholestyramine-treated groups.

RESULTS

For lindane administered by gavage, the differences in the CD50 and LD50 between the control and the activated charcoal groups were not statistically significant. However, a significant difference did exist in both the CD50 and the LD50 between the group receiving cholestyramine and the control group and between the cholestyramine and activated charcoal groups. After IP administration of lindane, the difference in CD50 or LD50 among control, activated charcoal, or cholestyramine groups was not significantly different.

CONCLUSION

In the murine model, cholestyramine is more effective than activated charcoal in preventing absorption of lindane, thus preventing convulsions and death. These data support the need for clinical studies to determine whether cholestyramine may be a more effective treatment than activated charcoal for acute lindane ingestions in human beings.