Gyromitra Toxin Toxicity Treatment & Management

  • Author: Reed Brozen, MD; Chief Editor: Asim Tarabar, MD   more...
 
Updated: Nov 17, 2011
 

Prehospital Care

Initiate supportive care, including intravenous (IV) fluids and seizure control with pyridoxine and benzodiazepines.

Next

Emergency Department Care

  • Initiate supportive care and decontamination as follows:
    • ABCs and coma protocols
    • Correction of fluid and electrolyte imbalances
    • Antiemetics (if needed)
    • Dextrose (if needed)
    • Consideration of activated charcoal (although with typical delayed presentation of poisoning by Gyromitra species, value from this intervention is unlikely)
  • Administer IV fluids to maintain brisk urine output and prevent renal damage from hemolysis.
  • Treat seizures with both pyridoxine (vitamin B-6) and benzodiazepines.
    • Although limited cases exist in which pyridoxine was used as an antidote for gyromitrin-containing mushroom poisoning, pyridoxine is the antidote of choice for isoniazid-induced seizures, which are due to hydrazine and hydrazone metabolites of isoniazid interfering with GABA synthesis.
    • Phenobarbital has been demonstrated to increase metabolism of hydrazines to toxic metabolites and should be avoided. Phenobarbital metabolism may be decreased if liver failure from gyromitrin toxicity has occurred.
  • Methemoglobinemia involves oxygen and methylene blue.
    • Methemoglobin cannot transport oxygen; functional anemia results.
    • Modest levels of methemoglobinemia may be tolerated with supportive care. With higher levels (eg, >20%) and associated symptoms, such as mental status changes, dyspnea, ischemic chest pain, or acidosis, consider treatment with methylene blue.
  • Anemia due to hemolysis may require blood transfusion.
  • Theoretically, folinic acid may be beneficial. Hydrazines inhibit metabolism of folic acid to tetrahydrofolate.
Previous
Next

Consultations

  • Consultation with a regional poison control center and toxicologist may be helpful. They may assist in contacting a mycologist for mushroom identification.
  • Obtain a gastroenterology consultation if evidence of liver dysfunction is present.
Previous
Proceed to Medication
 
 
Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Reed Brozen, MD  Director of Air Transport, Associate Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Dartmouth Medical School, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center

Reed Brozen, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American College of Emergency Physicians, New Hampshire Medical Society, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Marcus J Hampers, MD, MBA  Instructor, Department of Medicine, Dartmouth Medical School; Consulting Staff, Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Hospital Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Section of Critical Care Medicine, and Department of Emergency Medicine, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Marcus J Hampers, MD, MBA is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Chest Physicians, American College of Emergency Physicians, American College of Physicians, American Medical Association, New Hampshire Medical Society, Society of Critical Care Medicine, and Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

B Zane Horowitz, MD, FACMT  Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Oregon Health and Sciences University; Medical Director, Oregon Poison Center; Medical Director, Alaska Poison Control System

B Zane Horowitz, MD, FACMT is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Clinical Toxicology and American College of Medical Toxicology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

John T VanDeVoort, PharmD  Regional Director of Pharmacy, Sacred Heart and St Joseph's Hospitals

John T VanDeVoort, PharmD is a member of the following medical societies: American Society of Health-System Pharmacists

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Michael Hodgman, MD  Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Bassett Healthcare

Michael Hodgman, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Medical Toxicology, American College of Physicians, Medical Society of the State of New York, and Wilderness Medical Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

John D Halamka, MD, MS  Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Chief Information Officer, CareGroup Healthcare System and Harvard Medical School; Attending Physician, Division of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

John D Halamka, MD, MS is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians, American Medical Informatics Association, Phi Beta Kappa, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Asim Tarabar, MD  Assistant Professor, Director, Medical Toxicology, Department of Emergency Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine; Consulting Staff, Department of Emergency Medicine, Yale-New Haven Hospital

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

References

  1. Watson WA, Litovitz TL, Rodgers GC, et al. 2004 Annual report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers Toxic Exposure Surveillance System. Am J Emerg Med. Sep 2005;23(5):589-666. [Medline].

  2. Watson WA, Litovitz TL, Klein-Schwartz W, et al. 2003 annual report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers Toxic Exposure Surveillance System. Am J Emerg Med. Sep 2004;22(5):335-404. [Medline].

  3. Watson WA, Litovitz TL, Rodgers GC, et al. 2002 annual report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers Toxic Exposure Surveillance System. Am J Emerg Med. Sep 2003;21(5):353-421. [Medline].

  4. Litovitz TL, Klein-Schwartz W, Rodgers GC, et al. 2001 Annual report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers Toxic Exposure Surveillance System. Am J Emerg Med. Sep 2002;20(5):391-452. [Medline].

  5. Litovitz TL, Klein-Schwartz W, White S, et al. 2000 Annual report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers Toxic Exposure Surveillance System. Am J Emerg Med. Sep 2001;19(5):337-95. [Medline].

  6. Litovitz TL, Klein-Schwartz W, White S, et al. 1999 annual report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers Toxic Exposure Surveillance System. Am J Emerg Med. Sep 2000;18(5):517-74. [Medline].

  7. Litovitz TL, Klein-Schwartz W, Caravati EM, et al. 1998 annual report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers Toxic Exposure Surveillance System. Am J Emerg Med. Sep 1999;17(5):435-87. [Medline].

  8. Litovitz TL, Klein-Schwartz W, Dyer KS, et al. 1997 annual report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers Toxic Exposure Surveillance System. Am J Emerg Med. Sep 1998;16(5):443-97. [Medline].

  9. Litovitz TL, Smilkstein M, Felberg L, et al. 1996 annual report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers Toxic Exposure Surveillance System. Am J Emerg Med. Sep 1997;15(5):447-500. [Medline].

  10. Hoppe-Roberts JM, Lloyd LM, Chyka PA. Poisoning mortality in the United States: comparison of national mortality statistics and poison control center reports. Ann Emerg Med. May 2000;35(5):440-8. [Medline].

  11. Braun R, Greeff U, Netter KJ. Liver injury by the false morel poison gyromitrin. Toxicology. Feb 1979;12(2):155-63. [Medline].

  12. Brent J, Kulig K. Mushrooms. In: Haddad LM, et al, eds. Clinical Management of Poisoning and Drug Overdose. 3rd ed. WB Saunders; 1998:365-74.

  13. Karlson-Stiber C, Persson H. Cytotoxic fungi--an overview. Toxicon. Sep 15 2003;42(4):339-49. [Medline].

  14. Leathem AM, Dorran TJ. Poisoning due to raw Gyromitra esculenta (false morels) west of the Rockies. CJEM. Mar 2007;9(2):127-30. [Medline].

  15. Michelot D, Toth B. Poisoning by Gyromitra esculenta--a review. J Appl Toxicol. Aug 1991;11(4):235-43. [Medline].

  16. Schneider A, Attaran M, Meier PN, Strassburg C, Manns MP, Ott M. Hepatocyte transplantation in an acute liver failure due to mushroom poisoning. Transplantation. Oct 27 2006;82(8):1115-6. [Medline].

  17. Trestrail JH. Monomethylhydrazine-containing mushrooms. In: Spoerke DG, Rumack BH, eds. Handbook of Mushroom Poisoning: Diagnosis and Treatment. CRC Press LLC; 1994:279-87.

  18. Yildirim C, Bayraktaroglu Z, Gunay N, Bozkurt S, Köse A, Yilmaz M. The use of therapeutic plasmapheresis in the treatment of poisoned and snake bite victims: an academic emergency department's experiences. J Clin Apher. Dec 2006;21(4):219-23. [Medline].

 
Previous
Next
 
 
 
 
All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2012 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.

DISCLAIMER: The content of this Website is not influenced by sponsors. The site is designed primarily for use by qualified physicians and other medical professionals. The information contained herein should NOT be used as a substitute for the advice of an appropriately qualified and licensed physician or other health care provider. The information provided here is for educational and informational purposes only. In no way should it be considered as offering medical advice. Please check with a physician if you suspect you are ill.