[Acute carbon tetrachloride poisoning].

The authors investigate 20 cases of acute carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) poisoning representing 50% of all acute poisonings with organo-chlorate solvents admitted during a 5-year interval to Galaţi District Hospital. All our CCl4 acute poisoning cases were accidental, mild and moderate in form, and prevailed in man (80%). Depending on the ingested (more seldom) or inhaled amounts, CCl4 induces neurological and or digestive disturbances, parenchymatous involvements, prevalently hepatic (misdiagnosis of acute viral hepatitis and leptospirosis) or mixed, hepatorenal. Characteristic to the mixed form is the staged evolution of the clinico-biological manifestations, acute toxic hepatitis in the first week and acute toxic tubulo-interstitial nephropathy in the second one, both requiring proper management. Five selected cases are presented.