Disulfiram inhibition of cyanide formation after acetonitrile poisoning

Abstract

Context: Cyanide poisoning may be caused by acetonitrile, a common industrial organic solvent and laboratory agent. Objective:To describe the potential use of disulfiram in treating acetonitrile poisoning in a human clinical case and to further study its effect in human liver microsomes in vitro. Results:In vitro experiments with human liver microsomes showed the cyanide concentration was significantly lower after incubation with acetonitrile and disulfiram than acetonitrile alone (a mean 60% reduction in cyanide level).