Overcoming apathy in research on organophosphate poisoning 329
pp 1231-3 New antidotes for organophosphates are needed to
prepare for chemical attacks in the West and to tackle pesticide
poisoning in developing countries, argue researchers in this
week's BMJ. Organophosphates are a group of organic compounds
containing phosphorus, some of which are used as pesticides.
Organophosphates have also been used in chemical weapons and
nerve gas attacks, such as the sarin attack in Japan.
Organophosphate poisoning is a leading cause of premature death
in the developing world, while Western nations are concerned
about terrorist use of chemicals. Yet no new antidotes have been
tested in clinical trials in the last 30 years. An international
collaboration is needed to make a concerted effort to develop
and test new treatments that would benefit both groups of
patients, write the authors. Atropine is currently the only
clearly proved and moderately effective treatment for
organophosphate poisoning. Information on potenti