[A poisonous spring smoothie with wild herbs: accidental intoxication with foxglove (Digitalis purpurea)]. 2020

Jurjen S Kingma, and Irene M Frenay, and Arend Jan Meinders, and Vincent F van Dijk, and Ankie M Harmsze
St. Antonius ziekenhuis, afd. Klinische Farmacie,Nieuwegein.

At a time when self-sufficiency and health are becoming increasingly important in society, the chances of intoxications with wild plants are increasing. Foxglove contains poisonous cardiac glycosides such as digoxin, digitoxin and gitoxin. The levels vary greatly and depend on the season and the location of the plants. The "non-digoxin" cardiac glycosides show a limited cross-reaction with the digoxin assay. This means that a low or therapeutic digoxin level does not rule out a severe foxglove intoxication. Due to the long half-life of the different cardiac glycosides, toxic symptoms can be persistent. A 43-year-old woman arrived at the Emergency Department with persistent vomiting and specific ECG-abnormalities. The day before, she drunk a smoothie made from wild plants picked in the woods. Patient appeared to have mistaken foxglove for common sorrel. In case of persistent gastrointestinal complaints with specific ECG abnormalities after ingestion of plant material, clinicians should be aware of a foxglove intoxication.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D004070 Digitalis A genus of toxic herbaceous Eurasian plants of the Plantaginaceae which yield cardiotonic DIGITALIS GLYCOSIDES. The most useful species are Digitalis lanata and D. purpurea. Foxglove,Common Foxglove,Digitalis lanata,Digitalis purpurea,Grecian Foxglove,Common Foxgloves,Foxglove, Common,Foxglove, Grecian,Foxgloves,Foxgloves, Common,Foxgloves, Grecian,Grecian Foxgloves
D005260 Female Females
D005517 Foodborne Diseases Acute illnesses, usually affecting the GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT, brought on by consuming contaminated food or beverages. Most of these diseases are infectious, caused by a variety of bacteria, viruses, or parasites that can be foodborne. Sometimes the diseases are caused by harmful toxins from the microbes or other chemicals present in the food. Especially in the latter case, the condition is often called food poisoning. Food Poisoning,Food-borne Disease,Food-borne Illness,Foodborne Disease,Foodborne Illness,Food-borne Diseases,Food-borne Illnesses,Foodborne Illnesses,Poisoning, Food,Disease, Food-borne,Disease, Foodborne,Food Poisonings,Food borne Disease,Food borne Diseases,Food borne Illness,Food borne Illnesses,Illness, Food-borne,Illness, Foodborne,Illnesses, Foodborne
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D014839 Vomiting The forcible expulsion of the contents of the STOMACH through the MOUTH. Emesis

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