[Liver failure due to mushroom poisoning: clinical course and new treatment perspectives]

M V Catalina1, O Núñez, A Ponferrada

  • 1Servicio de Aparato Digestivo. Sección de Hepatología. Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón. Madrid. España.

Gastroenterologia Y Hepatologia
|July 31, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Mushroom poisoning, primarily from Amanita species, is a rare but serious medical emergency. Early treatment and advanced therapies like MARS can improve outcomes for severe liver failure.

Area of Science:

  • Toxicology
  • Hepatology
  • Emergency Medicine

Background:

  • Mushroom poisoning, particularly from Amanita species, is an infrequent cause of liver failure.
  • It presents a high morbidity and mortality, constituting a medical emergency.

Observation:

  • Initial symptoms like vomiting and abdominal pain are nonspecific and can mimic gastroenteritis.
  • Severe cases can progress to renal and hepatic failure, necessitating interventions such as liver transplantation or albumin dialysis.

Findings:

  • Three cases demonstrated varied clinical courses, from full recovery with conventional treatment to acute liver failure.
  • Penicillin G and silymarin showed potential utility in treatment.
  • Extracorporeal detoxification, specifically molecular absorbent recycling system (MARS) dialysis, offered a favorable outcome in severe cases.

Implications:

  • Prompt diagnosis and intervention are crucial for managing mushroom poisoning.
  • MARS dialysis represents a significant supportive treatment option for patients with severe liver dysfunction due to mushroom toxicity.
  • Further research into standardized treatment protocols for mushroom poisoning is warranted.

Related Concept Videos

Pharmaceutical Poisoning: Treatment Strategies01:26

Pharmaceutical Poisoning: Treatment Strategies

Treatment strategies for poisoning are a critical aspect of emergency medicine, focusing on preventing the absorption of toxins and enhancing their elimination. When a poisoning incident occurs, the first response is to halt exposure and decontaminate the patient, particularly through gastrointestinal (GI) methods if the poison was ingested.Gastrointestinal Decontamination Techniques:Activated charcoal is the cornerstone of GI decontamination. It works through adsorption, binding the toxin to...
Anticholinesterase Agents: Poisoning and Treatment01:26

Anticholinesterase Agents: Poisoning and Treatment

Anticholinesterases, also known as cholinesterase inhibitors, work by blocking the breakdown of acetylcholine, leading to its accumulation in the synaptic cleft. This accumulation indirectly enhances both muscarinic and nicotinic actions. These agents are classified as reversible or irreversible based on their mechanism of action.     
Irreversible agents form a strong bond with the cholinesterase enzyme, making it inactive. The breakdown of the phosphorylated enzyme is slower than the...
Pharmaceutical Poisoning: Potential Scenarios01:26

Pharmaceutical Poisoning: Potential Scenarios

Pharmaceutical poisoning can occur through various channels, impacting an estimated 2 million hospitalized patients in the U.S. annually with serious adverse drug responses. These scenarios encompass both therapeutic uses, such as drug toxicity, where even standard dosages can lead to severe central nervous system depression, and non-therapeutic exposures, including accidental ingestion by children, and environmental and occupational exposures.Unintentional poisonings often involve exploratory...
Drug Toxicity: Overview01:00

Drug Toxicity: Overview

Drug toxicity quantifies the harm a compound causes to an organism, varying by dose and potentially impacting whole systems or specific organs like the liver. Toxic reactions may arise from venomous insect or spider bites, with effects ranging from mild symptoms to severe outcomes such as brain damage or death. Common forms of acute poisoning include ethanol intoxication and overdose of pain or fever medications, with substances like GHB and heroin being particularly lethal at doses close to...
Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Dose Adjustments Due to Hepatic Impairment01:08

Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Dose Adjustments Due to Hepatic Impairment

Hepatic impairment, characterized by decreased liver function, does not uniformly mandate adjustments in drug dosage. Whether dosage modifications are necessary depends on various factors related to the drug's metabolism and elimination pathways. If a drug is primarily excreted via the kidneys and bypasses significant hepatic processing, if it undergoes minimal metabolic transformation in the liver, or if it is volatile and primarily expelled through the lungs, dose adjustments may not be...
Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Pathophysiologic Assessment and Liver Function Test01:22

Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Pathophysiologic Assessment and Liver Function Test

In clinical practice, the direct measurement of hepatic blood flow to evaluate liver function presents significant challenges due to the intricate and specialized nature of the necessary techniques. Consequently, healthcare professionals often rely on empirical estimates derived from thorough patient examinations and liver function tests to gauge liver health. Among the tools at their disposal, the Child–Pugh and MELD scoring systems stand out for their ability to categorize and assess the...