[Orellanus syndrome: mushroom poisoning with kidney insufficiency]

The Orellanus syndrome is a rare nephrotoxic disease caused by several fungi of the genus Cortinarius. For a long time the sole report of this syndrome was a mass intoxication in Poland. About 32 cases of Orellanus syndrome caused by Cortinarius orellanus, speciocissimus and splendens have been described in recent years. A few other species are also suspected of being nephrotoxic. The syndrome is characterized by a delayed latency period of 2 days to 3 weeks, and a chronic evolution involving fatigue, anorexia, headache, thirst, pains in the lumbar region and renal insufficiency with oliguria and anuria, and the clinical picture by reversible or irreversible interstitial nephritis. In this report the clinical and mycological features are summarized.