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