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[Acute encephalopathy after ingestion of "sugihiratake" mushroom]

Masatoyo Nishizawa1

  • 1Department of Neurology, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University.

Rinsho Shinkeigaku = Clinical Neurology
|February 2, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Ingesting sugihiratake mushrooms caused acute toxic encephalopathy in patients with renal dysfunction. This outbreak in Japan led to neurological symptoms, seizures, and fatalities, highlighting a potential mushroom-induced neurotoxin.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Toxicology
  • Mycology

Context:

  • An outbreak of acute encephalopathy occurred in Japan in 2004.
  • Patients had ingested the "sugihiratake" mushroom (angel's wings mushroom).
  • Many affected individuals presented with pre-existing renal dysfunction.

Purpose:

  • To summarize the clinical and laboratory findings of a novel acute toxic encephalopathy.
  • To investigate the potential link between sugihiratake mushroom consumption and neurological illness.
  • To characterize the neurological manifestations and neuroimaging findings associated with this outbreak.

Summary:

  • Patients developed leg asthenia, limb tremors, and ambulation difficulties, progressing to myoclonus and intractable status epilepticus.
  • Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) showed elevated protein without pleocytosis.
  • Brain CT and MRI revealed signal abnormalities in the external capsule, claustrum, and cortical white matter.

Impact:

  • Identified sugihiratake mushroom as a potential cause of acute toxic encephalopathy.
  • This study highlights the importance of considering mushroom toxicity in patients with neurological symptoms and renal dysfunction.
  • The findings contribute to understanding rare neurotoxic syndromes and inform public health advisories regarding wild mushroom consumption.

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