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Mobitz type I heart block after pokeweed ingestion
R J Hamilton1, R D Shih, R S Hoffman
1New York City Poison Center, NY 10016, USA.
Veterinary and Human Toxicology
|February 1, 1995
Summary
Pokeweed ingestion causes severe gastroenteritis. A case study suggests cardiac issues like heart block may stem from vagal nerve overstimulation due to severe vomiting, not a direct toxin.
Area of Science:
- Toxicology
- Cardiology
- Plant Science
Background:
- Phytolacca americana (pokeweed) ingestion commonly causes severe gastroenteritis.
- Cardiac effects are anecdotally reported but lack identified toxins.
- Vagal tone alterations are known to affect cardiac function.
Observation:
- A family ingested raw and cooked pokeweed leaves.
- One member developed Mobitz type I heart block coinciding with severe vomiting.
- The heart block resolved after intravenous promethazine administration.
Findings:
- The case suggests a potential link between pokeweed-induced gastroenteritis and cardiac arrhythmias.
- Increased vagal tone from gastrointestinal colic may precipitate cardiac events.
- No specific pokeweed cardiac toxin was identified in this case.
Implications:
- This observation expands understanding of pokeweed toxicity mechanisms.
- It highlights the importance of considering vagal effects in pokeweed poisoning.
- Further research is warranted to confirm the role of vagal tone in pokeweed-related cardiac events.