Table 2

Clinical variables seen in the suicidal and accidental overdose groups

Variable
Accidental overdose (n = 13)
Suicidal overdose (n = 80)
P value

Presentation >24 hours after overdose (n/n studied [%])
6/9 (66)
7/55 (13)
< 0.001
Peak acetaminophen (mg/l)


< 0.050
     Mean ± SD
64.5 ± 61.8
121.7 ± 97.0

     Median
49
99

     Range
0–184
0–439

Peak acetaminophen <10 mg/l (n [%])
5 (38)
8 (10)
NS
Peak ALT (IU/l)


0.070
     Mean ± SD
1386 ± 1918
580 ± 1836

     Median
187
30

     Range
30–5584
30–10356

Peak AST (IU/l)


0.070
     Mean ± SD
1330 ± 2697
504 ± 1708

     Median
114
30

     Range
30–9794
30–10773

Peak aminotransferase >1000 IU/l (n [%])
5 (39)
10 (12)
< 0.050
Peak prothrombin time (seconds)


< 0.050
     Mean ± SD
15.6 ± 7.4
12.7 ± 2.1

     Median
12
12

     Range
12–35
12–25

Peak serum bilirubin (mg/dl)


< 0.050
     Mean
3.8 ± 5.5
1.3 ± 1.3

     Median
1
1

     Range
1–5
1–10

N-acetylcysteine therapy (n [%])
8 (62)
59 (73)
0.500
Hepatic coma (n [%])
2 (15)
0 (0)
< 0.050
Death (n [%])
2 (15)
0 (0)
< 0.050
Length of stay in hospital (days)


< 0.010
     Mean
6.4 ± 6.1
3.9 ± 2.7

     Median
4
3

     Range
1–17
1–17


Gyamlani and Parikh Critical Care 2002 6:155   doi:10.1186/cc1475