Potential therapeutic approaches in paraquat poisoning: a narrative review

Abstract

Paraquat dichloride (PQ) poisoning is a relatively rare yet critical medical condition that has a high case fatality rate. Lung tissue is highly susceptible to PQ-induced injury, and respiratory failure is the leading cause of death in these patients. Unfortunately, there is a lack of an effective therapeutic approach to ameliorate outcomes. It is well-known that PQ interferes with a variety of cell signaling pathways and induces the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which ultimately results in cell injury. The traditional treatment decisions have not been able to significantly change the clinical course of PQ poisoning. Moreover, novel therapeutic strategies for PQ poisoning have centered on the inhibition of PQ-induced signaling pathways. In the current review, we sought to provide a bird’s-eye view of the available therapeutic approaches in patients with PQ poisoning.