Citation

Feinfeld DA, Mofenson HC, Caraccio T, Kee M. J. Toxicol. Clin. Toxicol. 1994; 32(6): 715-721.

Affiliation

Department of Medicine, Nassau County Medical Center, East Meadow, New York 11554.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1994, Marcel Dekker)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

7966529

Abstract

We report four cases of poisoning with amatoxin-producing mushrooms in suburban Long Island. All occurred when amateur mushroom hunters picked mushrooms from neighboring lawns. Two patients presented 30 hours post ingestion with evidence of acute hepatic dysfunction. One survived, after treatment with charcoal and penicillin; the other, a 90-year-old woman with prior cardiac disease soon developed shock and subsequently died. The other two patients were admitted 18 hours after ingestion of Lepiota chlorophyllum and received prompt charcoal hemoperfusion. Both did well, although one had a mild elevation of transaminases. Although most reports of amatoxin poisoning originate in Europe, these cases confirm that amatoxin-producing mushrooms, including Lepiota chlorophyllum, may be found in northeastern American suburbs. Such patients who present prior to 24 hours after ingestion should receive charcoal hemoperfusion if a lethal dose (> 50 g of mushroom) has been eaten.

Language: en