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Myoglobinuria due to quail poisoning
A Papadimitriou1, G M Hadjigeorgiou, P Tsairis
1Neurological Department, Laboratory of Muscle Disease, Red Cross Hospital, Athens, Greece.
European Neurology
|January 1, 1996
Summary
Quail poisoning causes acute myoglobinuric syndrome, but its cause remains unclear. This study suggests a toxic factor, not a genetic enzyme defect, is the primary cause of this condition.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Toxicology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Quail poisoning is associated with acute myoglobinuric syndrome.
- The etiology of quail poisoning, whether toxic or genetic, is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the underlying cause of myoglobinuria in quail poisoning.
- To assess patients' current condition and disease progression after quail consumption.
Main Methods:
- Evaluated 10 patients with a history of quail poisoning.
- Conducted physical examinations, electromyograms, and nerve conduction velocity tests.
- Performed muscle biopsies and analyzed glycolytic, mitochondrial, and lipolytic enzyme activities in 2 patients.
Main Results:
- All patients exhibited normal physical examinations, electromyograms, and nerve conduction velocities.
- Serum creatine kinase (CK), aldolase, and lactic acid levels were within normal limits.
- Muscle biopsies in symptomatic patients revealed normal enzyme activities, excluding pre-existing enzyme defects.
Conclusions:
- Findings suggest that a pre-existing enzyme defect is unlikely to be the cause of myoglobinuria in quail poisoning.
- The consumption of quails by some patients without adverse effects supports a toxic etiology.
- A toxic factor is likely the primary contributor to the development of quail poisoning syndrome.