Editing Saxitoxin (section)

===Illness in humans===

The human illness associated with ingestion of harmful levels of saxitoxin is known as [[paralytic shellfish poisoning]], or PSP, and saxitoxin and its derivatives are often referred to as "PSP toxins".<ref name="uhm"/>

The medical and environmental importance of saxitoxin derives from the consumption of contaminated [[shellfish]] and certain finfish which can concentrate the toxin from dinoflagellates or cyanobacteria. The blocking of neuronal [[sodium channel]]s which occurs in PSP produces a [[flaccid paralysis]] that leaves its victim calm and conscious through the progression of [[symptom]]s. Death often occurs from [[respiratory failure]]. PSP toxins have been implicated in various marine animal mortalities involving [[food chain|trophic transfer]] of the toxin from its algal source up the food chain to higher [[predator]]s.<ref name="sax"/>

Studies in animals have shown that the lethal effects of saxitoxin can be reversed with [[4-aminopyridine]],<ref>
{{Cite journal 
| last1 = Benton | first1 = B. J. | last2 = Keller | first2 = S. A. | last3 = Spriggs | first3 = D. L. | last4 = Capacio | first4 = B. R. | last5 = Chang | first5 = F. C. | title = Recovery from the lethal effects of saxitoxin: A therapeutic window for 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) | journal = Toxicon | volume = 36 | issue = 4 | pages = 571–588 | year = 1998 | pmid = 9643470 | doi=10.1016/s0041-0101(97)00158-x| bibcode = 1998Txcn...36..571B }}</ref><ref>
{{Cite journal 
| doi = 10.1006/faat.1997.2328 | last1 = Chang | first1 = F. C. | last2 = Spriggs | first2 = D. L. | last3 = Benton | first3 = B. J. | last4 = Keller | first4 = S. A. | last5 = Capacio | first5 = B. R. | title = 4-Aminopyridine reverses saxitoxin (STX)- and tetrodotoxin (TTX)-induced cardiorespiratory depression in chronically instrumented guinea pigs | journal = Fundamental and Applied Toxicology | volume = 38 | issue = 1 | pages = 75–88 | year = 1997 | pmid = 9268607| s2cid = 17185707 
}}</ref><ref>
{{Cite journal 
| last1 = Chen | first1 = H. | last2 = Lin | first2 = C. | last3 = Wang | first3 = T. | doi = 10.1006/taap.1996.0258 | title = Effects of 4-Aminopyridine on Saxitoxin Intoxication | journal = Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology | volume = 141 | issue = 1 | pages = 44–48 | year = 1996 | pmid = 8917674 
}}</ref> but there are no studies on human subjects. As with any paralytic agent, where the acute concern is respiratory failure, mouth-to-mouth resuscitation or [[artificial ventilation]] of any means will keep a poisoned victim alive until [[antidote]] is administered or the poison wears off.<ref>
{{cite web 
| url=https://fishdept.sabah.gov.my/sites/default/files/uploads/basicpage/files/458/redtideinfoeng.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211025051457/https://fishdept.sabah.gov.my/sites/default/files/uploads/basicpage/files/458/redtideinfoeng.pdf | url-status=dead | archive-date=October 25, 2021 | title=Paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) | access-date= April 10, 2022 | publisher= Fish Dept. Sabah Malaysia
}}</ref>