Poisoning by Cortinarius speciosissimus

Area of Science:

• Toxicology
• Nephrology
• Mycology

Background:

• Cortinarius speciosissimus mushroom poisoning, characterized by severe renal failure, was historically documented primarily in Scandinavia.
• The consumption of wild mushrooms, including toxic species, is a growing public health concern.

Observation:

• Three young adults in Scotland developed symptoms of Cortinarius poisoning, including gastrointestinal distress, nausea, anorexia, headache, rigors, thirst, muscle aches, and oliguria, after consuming the mushroom.
• One patient experienced a diuresis and recovered fully, while the other two presented with established severe renal failure 10 days post-ingestion.

Findings:

• The two patients with delayed presentation developed severe interstitial nephritis, resulting in complete loss of renal function.
• Both affected patients required intermittent hemodialysis and subsequently received kidney transplants nine months later.

Implications:

• This case highlights the severe nephrotoxic potential of Cortinarius speciosissimus, extending beyond Scandinavia to the British Isles.
• Public health initiatives, including warnings on wild edible food publications, are essential to prevent mushroom poisoning incidents due to the increasing popularity of wild mushroom foraging.