Human toxicology

Teacher(s)

Elens Laure (coordinator);

Language

French

Prerequisites

The student is supposed ta have basic knowledge of anatomy, physiology and biochemistry. The material consists mainly of the slide presentations during the lessons.

Main themes

The lessons are focusing on the important concept of target organ. The basis of the presentation will be the experience accumulated from the management of acutaly poisoned patients (drug overdoses). For each main organ (brain, heart, lung...), the topic will be introduced by a clinical case. From the clinical manifestations, the pathophysiology will be discussed in depth. Criteria of severity will be defined for the most common toxins. Treatment will also be discussed, with a critical analysis of the use of the antidotes. In addition to the adverse effects of drugs, other aspects of environmental toxicology will be covered : exposures to toxic plants, animals, gases... Some illustrative situations are described (Seveso, nephrotoxicity due to herbal remedies).

Content

content method :
The following chapter's will be illustrated by clinical case :
- Epidemiology of drug poisoning
- Pharmaco and toxicokinetics and toxicodynamics
- Toxins inducing central nervous system disturbances : drug and illicite substance
- Toxic causes of metabolic acidosis
- Mechanisms of cardiotoxicity
- Paracetamol-induced liver failure
- Toxicity due to animals and plants
- Carbon monoxide and cyanide poisoning

Evaluation methods

The evaluation is made with a questionnaire with multiple choise questions and open questions.

Faculty or entity

SBIM