Mistletoe hepatitis

Journal/Book: British Med. J. 282, 186-187. 1981;

Abstract: A 49-year-old woman presented with nausea, general malaise, and a dullache in the right hypochondrium. Liver biopsy showed slightinflammatory-cell infiltration, and results of liver function testssuggested hepatitis. Hepatitis B surface antigen was not detected, and acholecystogram was normal. Two years later she presented with similarsymptoms, and both illnesses were found to have occurred after ingestionof a herbal remedy containing kelp, motherwort, skullcap, and mistletoe.A challenge test established this to be the cause of the illness.Mistletoe is the only constituent of the tablets known to contain anypotential toxin and thus was probably the cause of the illness.Mistletoe is widely used in herbal remedies, whose ingestion maytherefore cause hepatitis. Author.

Keyword(s): CASE-REPORT

Zurück | Weiter