Sulfur mustard intravenous

The distribution and rate of elimination of sulfur mustard is partially dependent on the route of exposure and the dose received. Studies with radiolabeled (35S) agent showed that typically 50-80% of an absorbed dose is eliminated in urine, mostly within the first 3 days (2,3). Hambrook et al. (2) showed that >70% was excreted in urine following intravenous (i.v.) or intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection in rats, somewhat less (50-70 %) following cutaneous exposure to vapor. The lower percentage following cutaneous exposure resulted from retention in the... 

A. Maisonneuve, I. Callebat, L. Debordes and L. Coppet, Specific and sensitive quantitation of 2,2/-dichloroethyl sulfide, sulfur mustard, in water, plasma and blood application to its toxi-cokinetic study in the rat after intravenous intoxication, J. Chromatogr., B, 583, 155-165 (1992). 

FIGURE 50.5. Concentration over time, following i.v. and respiratory exposure to sulfur mustard in the guinea pig model. A Decline of sulfur mustard exposure after intravenous injection. B Concentration over time after respiratory exposure initial increase in the inhalation phase, followed hy a decline and a secondary increase, concentration of approximately 2 ng/ml is sustained for 4h. 

The second exception is that while an antidote is available for systemic effects of Lewisite exposure, there are no antidotes for nitrogen mustard or sulfur mustard toxicity, with one minor caveat if given within minutes after exposure, intravenous sodium thiosulfate may prevent death due to sulfur mustard exposure (25). Otherwise, the medical management for skin, ocular, and respiratory exposure is only supportive. One guideline physicians can follow is to keep skin, eye, and airway lesions free from infection. 

Maisonneuve, A., Callebat, I., Debordes, L., et al, 1994. Distribution of (14C) sulfur mustard in rats after intravenous exposure. Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 125, 281-287. 

The rat is a generally accepted model for toxicokinetic studies. Maisonneuve et al (1993) do not provide a rationale for choosing this rodent as an animal model for sulfur mustard intoxication. The authors only studied the intravenous (iv) toxicokinetics. 

Table 7.1 Toxicokinetic parameters for intravenous administration of sulfur mustard to rats, hairless guinea pigs, pigs and marmosets."...

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