Abstract
Although intoxication with organophosphates have occurred rather sporadically in the Czech Republic, self-poisoning with organophosphates may represent a serious clinical issue in rural regions of the developing world. According to an estimation from the World Health Organization, up to two million people are poisoned every year.
Medical management is usually diffi cult, associated with the mortality rate of above 15%. Based on chemical-physical properties, the central nervous system is one of the most important targets for organophosphates.
Brain damage is defi ned as a progressive damage resulting from cholinergic neuronal excitotoxicity and dysfunction of the brain cholinergic regions. Loss of neurons, damage to cholinergic and non-cholinergic pathways and degeneration of axons is usually observed in the central nervous system.
This delayed secondary neuronal damage might be largely responsible for persistent neuropsychiatric and neurological impairments, such as cognitive, motor and sensory deficits.