Accidental fatal ingestion of colchicine-containing leaves - toxicological and histological findings. Legal medicine (Tokyo, Japan) [Leg Med (Tokyo)] Journal article | | Title | Accidental fatal ingestion of colchicine-containing leaves - toxicological and histological findings. | | Author(s) | Wollersen H, Erdmann F, Risse M, Dettmeyer R | | Institution | Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Giessen, Frankfurter Str. 58, 35392 Giessen, Germany. | | Source | Leg Med (Tokyo) 2009 Mar 10. | | Abstract | A 65year old woman had collected some plant leaves, cooked them in water and ate this mash with honey. A few hours after consumption first symptoms of intoxication like sickness, stomach aches and diarrhoea appeared. Her condition deteriorated, she was admitted to hospital, became comatose and finally died due to a multiorgan failure. The plants she had collected were identified as autumn crocus (Colchicum autumnale). Colchicine-concentrations detected in blood samples (HPLC/DAD) taken in hospital approximately 24h after ingestion were 50mug/l, in post-mortem femoral blood 65mug/l colchicine were found (toxic range: >24mug/l). Also all tested organs contained equally high colchicine levels. Histological examination of the liver showed diffuse vacuolization in the cytoplasma of hepatocytes. Possibly due to the relatively short survival time, only isolated mitotic structures were found within the epithelium of the colon. | | Language | ENG | | Pub Type(s) | JOURNAL ARTICLE
| | PubMed ID | 19282218 |
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