Clinical features and treatment in patients with acute 2,4-dinitrophenol poisoning

OBJECTIVE: To report clinical features and treatment of 16 cases of acute 2,4-dinitrophenol poisoning. METHODS: A total of 16 patients suffering from acute poisoning due to non-oral exposure to 2,4-dinitrophenol were sent to our hospital. Two died within 3 h after admission, while the other 14 responded to supportive treatment and hemoperfusion. Clinical features and treatment of the patients were retrospectively analyzed and presented. RESULTS: Fourteen patients recovered and were discharged after four to six weeks of treatment. No obvious poisoning sequelae were found in the three-month follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Non-oral exposure to 2,4-dinitrophenol is toxic. Hemoperfusion and glucocorticoid treatments may be efficient measures to prevent mortality, but this requires further study.