Biochemical Findings in an Atypical Case of Kala Pathar (Paraphenylenediamine) Poisoning

By Waqas Hanif, Mehreen Aftab Khan, Muhammad Younas

Affiliations

1. Department of Chemical Pathology, Combined Military Hospital (CMH), Multan, Pakistan

doi: 10.29271/jcpsp.2020.11.1241

Paraphenylenediamine (PPD) is an organic compound with chemical formula C₆H₄ (NH₂)₂. It is an aromatic amine, solid and white in color, which turns black on oxidation and is a main ingredient of many locally produced hair dyes.  PPD is highly toxic compound, which causes significant damage to tissues and induces hypersensitivity allergic reactions.¹             It causes skeletal and cardiac muscle necrosis, causing renal tubular occlusion due to myoglobin casts. It is also directly toxic to renal tubules.² Here, a case of acute PPD poisoning with atypical presentation is reported.  

A 24-year male presented in Trauma Centre with history of kala pathar ingestion 4 days back with suicidal intent. He had complaint of generalised myalgia and headache with decreased urine output.  Clinically, he was alert, well oriented and afebrile. There was no neck swelling.  His blood pressure was 150/110 mmHg; heart rate was 90 beats/min, and respiratory rate was 20 breaths/min.  Systemic examination was unremarkable except for muscle tenderness and rigidity. Total leukocyte count was 17.3×10⁹/L (normal: 4 -11×10⁹/L), with 95% neutrophils (normal: 55-70%). hemoglobin (Hb) was 12.7 g/dl (normal: 14–18 g/dl), red blood cell count was 4.43×10¹²/L (normal: 4.52-5.90×10¹²/L), platelet count, 184×10⁹/L (normal:  150 to 400 × 10⁹/L) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) was 81.3 fL (normal: 80-95 fL). His Biochemical Profile was as follows (Table I).

Table I: Biochemical profile of the patient.

Serum biochemical markers	Level	Normal reference ranges
Serum urea	25.1 mmol/l	1.2-3 mmol/L
Serum potassium	5.7 mmol/l	3.5-5 mmol/L
Serum CPK	532,600 U/L	25-200 U/L
Serum AST	12183   U/L	5-30 U/L
Serum creatinine	614 μmol/L	53-106 μmol/L
Serum sodium	128 mmol/l	135-145 mmol/L
Serum CK-MB	5146     U/L	5-25 U/L
Serum LDH	38844  U/L	50-150 U/L
CPK: Creatinine phosphokinase, AST: Aspartate aminotransferase, LDH: Lactate dehydrogenase.

A diagnosis of acute PPD poisoning was made, based on history of ingestion and clinical signs and symptoms. Patient had severe rhabdomyolysis, acute kidney injury and acute liver injury. His urine output was nil on urinary catheterisation. He remained hypertensive and his condition deteriorated.  Hemodialysis was started and he was given supportive care. Intravenous (IV) fluids, corticosteroids and bicarbonate were given. Renal biopsy was performed on 12^th day of admission and showed moderate acute tubular necrosis and neutrophilic and eosinophilic infiltrates in the interstitium. After multiple sessions of dialysis over the course of 18 days of hospital admission, his urine output remained nil. His overall condition improved and he requested to be discharged. At the time of discharge, his blood pressure was 140/90 and he still had no urine output. He was prescribed antihypertensives, and advised hemodialysis thrice weekly. During follow-up, his urine output and kidney functions slowly improved to normal and hemodialysis was stopped.

Over the past few decades, PPD ingestion has become an emerging trend in regions of Punjab and Sindh in Pakistan and also in India and Africa. Though the government placed ban on sale and purchase of kala pathar in several districts of south Punjab in 2017, it still remains an important but under-documented cause of morbidity and mortality in Pakistan.³ A study from Multan, Punjab showed that 82.8% of all patients ingested it with suicidal intent, with 97% of the patients being females.²

Angioedema, a common presentation of PPD poisoning is edema of the deep dermis and subcutaneous tissues.  Several studies have reported cervicofacial edema to be the characteristic and early symptom of this condition, followed by acute renal failure.^4-6 However, our patient did not develop angioedema. Among the biochemical markers, highest creatine phosphokinase (CPK) level reported in one study was 281,000 IU/L. Our case had CPK level of 532,600 IU/L, which is a rare finding. That, along with absence of cervico-facial edema, makes it an unusual case among other reported cases of PPD toxicity.

PPD is a easily available and cheap compound. Its use has significantly increased especially for the purpose of suicide. There is immediate need of awareness in public regarding its devastating health consequences. Atypical PPD poisoning cases need to be studied in more detail, so that physicians be aware of its atypical presentations and can make a timely diagnosis in case the patient does not reveal history of ingestion. A timely diagnosis can be life-saving as PPD poisoning has high mortality; and no antidote is available.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST:
The authors declared no conflict of interest.

AUTHORS' CONTRIBUTION:
WH: Monitoring of patients.
MAK:  History taking.
MY: Literature review.

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