Aim: Poisoning with
Paraquat (PQ) is a severe medical concern in many developing countries due to the lack of specific antidote, effective treatment, and high mortality rate. PQ can cause severe lung damage. This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effect of thalidomide, a widely used drug with anti-inflammatory properties, on patients poisoned with PQ in the Kerman Province of Iran. Methods: The studied groups include (۱) thalidomide taken and discharged, (۲) thalidomide taken and died, (۳) thalidomide not taken and discharged, and (۴) thalidomide not taken and died. Malondialdehyde (MDA) test was performed to measure the amount of lipid peroxidation, and in order to measure the protein carbonyl groups, a protein carbonylation test was performed. Results: In this study, ۵۵ paraquat-poisoned individuals participated; ۲۷ were studied as the control group (۱۲ were discharged, and ۱۵ died), and ۲۸ were studied as the treatment group (discharged: ۱۲, died: ۱۶). The frequency of discharge in the treatment group (۴۲.۸%) and in the control group (۴۴.۴%) and the frequency of death in the treatment group (۵۷.۲%) and in the control group (۵۵.۶%) %) Was reported. There was no significant difference in terms of outcome between studied groups (p-value =۰.۹۰). Also, the levels of lipid peroxidation activity and protein carbonylation in red blood cells and serum of the control group did not differ significantly from those of the treatment group(p-value<۰.۰۵). Conclusion: Patients with a normal endoscopy had a better prognosis than those with an abnormal endoscopy. In addition, by examining the effect of thalidomide on reducing complications caused by PQ poisoning, no significant difference was found between the control and treatment groups. Additionally, no significant difference regarding to mortality was seen among groups. It should also be noted that lipid peroxidation activity and protein carbonylation level in red blood cells and serum of subjects in the control group did not show any significant difference compared to the treatment group. Therefore, thalidomide does not play a role in reducing the complications and mortality rate caused by paraquat poisoning and cannot be used as a therapeutic factor in paraquat poisoning.