Multiorgan failure caused by Chinese herbal medicine Xanthii Fructus poisoning: a case report

• Published in: BMC complementary and alternative medicine Vol. 23; no. 1; p. 273
• Main Authors: Li, Yaqian, Yu, Guangcai, Shi, Longke, Zhao, Liwen, Wen, Zixin, Kan, Baotian, Jian, Xiangdong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 31.07.2023; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Abdomen; Abnormalities; Alanine; Alanine transaminase; Allergic rhinitis; Anorexia; Anorexia nervosa; Anuria; Aspartate; Aspartate aminotransferase; Blood coagulation; Blood pressure; Care and treatment; Case Report; Case reports; Chinese medicine; Coma; Creatinine; Development and progression; Drug dosages; Drugs; Esmolol; Health services; Heart rate; Hemodialysis; Herbal medicine; Hospitals; Jaundice; Laboratories; Liver; Liver diseases; Liver function damage; Medicine, Botanic; Medicine, Chinese; Medicine, Herbal; Multiorgan failure; Overdose; Oxygen saturation; Pain; Poisoning; Poisons; Proteins; Renal function damage; Rhinitis; Tomography; Toxicity; Transaminases; Xanthii Fructus; China; Jaundice; Anuria; Case report; Liver function damage; Renal function damage; Xanthii Fructus; Multiorgan failure
• ISSN: 2662-7671; 2662-7671; 1472-6882
• DOI: 10.1186/s12906-023-04105-6

Xanthii Fructus was used in the treatment of rhinitis and related nasal disease. It is the most commonly used chemically active component in compounds formulated for the treatment of rhinitis. However, poisoning, resulting in serious consequences, can easily occur owing to cocklebur overdose, improper processing, or usage without processing. We reported on a 55-year-old man who experienced allergic rhinitis for 2.5 years. He ingested unprocessed Xanthii Fructus for 2 months as treatment. However, he developed anorexia; nausea; abdominal pain; general weakness; hiccups; oliguria and anuria; significantly elevated serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and creatinine levels; and abnormalities in blood coagulation series. Nutritional support; daily drugs for liver protection, gastric protection, inflammation reduction; fresh plasma; and cryoprecipitate infusion were administered. Continuous venovenous hemodialysis (Prismaflex ST100) was also administered. However, the patient's multiple organ failure gradually worsened, ultimately leading to death. Xanthii Fructus poisoning affects multiple systems, and its clinical manifestations are complex. Therefore, it is easily misdiagnosed and missed. Along with careful inquiry of medical and medication history, early diagnosis and intervention are vital for a successful treatment. It is also important to educate people and create awareness about this poisoning. Therefore, this intractable case has great clinical significance.