Sodium azide (NaN3) intoxication, “the man who lived”: potential effective antidote and treatment strategy

Publication date

2025-03-07

Authors

Geerdink, J X
van der Wal, Greetje
de Jong, Lutea A.A.
Olyslager, Erik J.H.
van den Goorbergh, Thomas W.
Kluijtmans, Leo A.J.
Spronk, Peter E.

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Advisors

Supervisors

Document Type

Article

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Abstract

This case report describes the successful treatment of a suicide attempt involving the ingestion of a supralethal dose of sodium azide (NaN3), presenting a prospective novel antidote and therapeutic approach. Treatment encompassed the implementation of high-volume continuous veno-venous hemofiltration (HV-CVVH) alongside the administration of levocarnitine. The latter demonstrated a substantial mitigation of lactate concentration. Comprehensive analyses of serum, ultrafiltrate, and urine revealed the efficacy of HV-CVVH in elimination of NaN3. Our case report presents a potential therapeutic approach for managing otherwise fatal NaN3 intoxications.

Keywords

CVVH, High-volume continuous veno-venous hemofiltration, HV-CVVH, Levocarnitine, NaN, Sodium azide, Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine

Citation

Geerdink, J X, van der Wal, G, de Jong, L A A, Olyslager, E J H, van den Goorbergh, T W, Kluijtmans, L A J & Spronk, P E 2025, 'Sodium azide (NaN 3 ) intoxication, “the man who lived” : potential effective antidote and treatment strategy', Critical Care, vol. 29, no. 1, 103. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13054-025-05330-w