2,4-Dinitrophenol (2,4-DNP) is an industrial chemical that was available over the internet as a slimming agent.
The chemical is extremely toxic in an overdose with a fulminant course.
Mechanism: hypermetabolic state with uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation in mitochondria
Clinical manifestations:
(1) hyperthermia/hyperpyrexia (up to 43°C)
(2) tachycardia and/or cardiac arrhythmias
(3) agitation or confusion
(4) hypertension
(5) tachypnea and/or dyspnea
(7) hypertonia
(8) coma
(9) cardiac arrest
Laboratory findings:
(1) lactic acidosis
(2) hypoglycemia
Complications:
(1) methemoglobinemia
(2) cataracts
(3) agranulocytosis
(4) toxic hepatitis
