Abstract
We studied the effect of organophosphate and carbamate poisoning on cardiovascular system, especially the effect on blood pressure and electrocardiographic changes in six patients (3 males, 3 females, age range 19-91 years) admitted to our hospital between the period of 1978 to 1983 Blood pressure, ECG and serum cholinesterase were monitord in these patients.
On admission one patient had both systolic and diastolic hypertension, one had only systolic hypertension. The remaining three patients also showed elevated systolic pressure which decreased by 10-30 mmHg within several days and became stable.
Electrocardiographic changes were sinus bradycardia, atrioventricular block (Wenckebach) and atrial fibrillation. There were no cases of tachyarrhythmia except one patient with atrial fibrillation who had a rapid ventricular response.
Serum cholinesterase levels in patients with arrhythmia were lower than those of patients without arrhythmia. No significant correlation was observed between serum cholinesterase level and blood pressure changes.
