ABSTRACT
Advanced Digitalis intoxication is a rare event, mainly associated with overdose in patients with Digitalis therapy. We report an unusual case of acute 'familiar' digitalis poisoning in three patients who had eaten potato dumplings flavoured with leaves of Borago officinalis L. unconsciously mixed with leaves of Digitalis purpurea L. A complicated clinical course with marked bradyarrhythmias was presented, with good evolution thanks to the use of digoxin-specific antibody Fab fragments. The theme of the domestic use of plants with medicinal effects has been treated and discussed.
Subject(s)
Bradycardia/chemically induced , Cardiac Glycosides/poisoning , Digitalis , Food Contamination , Acute Disease , Adult , Antidotes/therapeutic use , Bradycardia/physiopathology , Bradycardia/therapy , Cardiac Glycosides/immunology , Charcoal/therapeutic use , Electrocardiography , Female , Heart Rate/drug effects , Humans , Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments/therapeutic use , Male , Middle Aged , Plant Leaves , Poisoning/etiology , Poisoning/therapyABSTRACT
We report an unusual digitalis poisoning case, with a positive result, caused by the swallowing of digitalis purpurea leaves. They were taken for borage leaves, usually used to prepare "risotto". Be careful not to eat vegetables you don't usually eat, because some of them may have different toxicity levels.
