retrorsine and Poisoning

Neo- and perinatal mortality is high in most of Africa. Twins are at particular risk of perinatal mortality. The contribution of traditional remedies is seldom addressed. The case histories of two sets of twins who were treated with traditional remedies are described. The herbal remedies were analysed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. In one family, both siblings survived, albeit with hepatic damage. In the other family, one twin died within 24 h and the second one month after admission with a diagnosis of veno-occlusive liver disease (VOD). In both cases, the presence of the toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloid retrorsine, which is known to lead to VOD, was identified. Health-care workers should be aware of the possibility of traditional medicine administration as a cause of illness, specifically in twin births.

Topics: Diseases in Twins; Fatal Outcome; Female; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Hepatic Veno-Occlusive Disease; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Male; Medicine, African Traditional; Poisoning; Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids

Six rabbits were immunized against the pyrrolizidine alkaloid retrorsin, conjugated to bovine serum albumin. Seven i.v. inoculations were distributed over a period of half a year. The total antigen dose differed between animals. Towards the end of the experiment all animals (except 2 receiving the lowest antigen dose) suffered from apathy, anorexia and loss of body weight. Pathologically these symptoms correlated well with liver cirrhosis, gradually dependent on the total antigen dose. Blood-chemical parameters were disparate and contradictory.

Topics: Animals; Antibody Formation; Antigens; Female; Immunization; Liver Cirrhosis; Male; Poisoning; Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids; Rabbits