[Treatment of alkyl phosphate poisoning with purified serum cholinesterase (author's transl)].

A 26-years-old man injected himself intramuscularly with 3.75 gram of demeton methyl in an attempt to commit suicide. After 36 hours severe symptoms of poisoning developed with loss of consciousness and respiratory arrest. As symptomatic treatment failed to improve his condition has given injections of purified serum cholinesterase. This was followed by a rise in the cholin esterase levels and the increased activity was accompanied by a rapid and definite improvement in the clinical findings. The results clearly indicate the usefulness of this method of treatment. Transfusions of fresh blood to counteract the cholin esterase deficiency are inadvisable because of the risks of complications. Substitution therapy with serum cholinesterase must be accompanied by administration of large doses of atropine.