Multiple organ failure leading to death after ingestion of Caltha palustris: A case report

Studies have previously reported misidentifying Caltha palustris (C. palustris) as Ligularia fischeri and its subsequent ingestion leading to abdominal pain and gastrointestinal symptoms, which are alleviated immediately. Bradycardia and hypotension may persist for several days, and an infusion of dopamine can restore a healthy state without complications. We report a case of C. palustris poisoning with protein-losing enteropathy that has not been reported previously. The patient died of multiple organ failure, and exhibited more severe clinical deterioration than previous cases due to prolonged shock.

A 70-year-old woman was admitted to the emergency department (ED) with complaints of epigastric pain, vomiting, and diarrhea after ingestion of a poisonous plant presumed to be C. palustris. The patient presented with bradycardia and hypotension after ED admission, and vasopressor infusion improved bradycardia but not hypotension, while the patient complained of severe epigastric pain.

Abdominal computed tomography showed luminal distention and edematous thickening of the entire stomach lining, as well as small and large intestinal wall edema, indicating severe gastritis and enterocolitis. The laboratory test results suggested severe hypoalbuminemia, while the arterial blood gas analyses showed a continuous increase in metabolic acidosis.

As plant poisoning was suspected, activated charcoal was administered to the patient, followed by administration of vasopressors and other conservative therapies. Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) was used for metabolic acidosis of increasing severity.

Despite the administration of vasopressors and other conservative therapies, the state of shock persisted, and metabolic acidosis did not improve even after CRRT. Ultimately, the patient died of multiple organ failure.

For many poisonous wild plants, the precise profile of toxic compounds and mechanisms of action remain to be identified; when there is insufficient literature reporting on suspected plant poisoning, the medical personnel providing the treatment should consider the various side effects that differ from the reported ones and the possibility of more severe clinical progress and poor prognosis.