Amanita poisoning during the second trimester of pregnancy

Abstract

Amanita phalloides-type mushroom poisoning is well recognized as causing acute liver injury and often death. Less is known, however, of whether maternal Amanita poisoning is associated with fetal damage or not. In August 1991 four members of a family were hospitalized with food intoxication caused by Amanita phalloides and Amanita verna. One of them died from hepatic and renal failure. The survivors included a 26-year-old woman in the 23rd week of pregnancy. Her clinical symptoms and blood chemistry data (lowest prothrombin activity 23%) indicated intoxication of medium severity. The management consisted of i.v. hydration, forced diuresis, and administration of silibinin, high-dose penicillin, thioctic acid, hydrocortisone, vitamin K, and fresh frozen plasma. Sonographic and obstetric controls failed to show any fetal abnormalities in the acute phase of poisoning. In the 38th week of pregnancy she gave birth to a healthy baby, who has subsequently undergone an undisturbed development. This observation indicated that severe fetal damage did not occur in maternal Amanita poisoning in the second trimester of pregnancy. Thus, at least from the second trimester on, maternal Amanita poisoning is not necessarily an indication for induced abortion.