Prolonged ventilatory failure and flaccid quadriparesis after ingestion of poison hemlock.

BACKGROUND

A 28-year-old man presented with acute flaccid paralysis and respiratory failure that persisted for 2 weeks after suicidal ingestion of unknown substances.

METHODS

Extensive clinical, nerve, laboratory, and neuroimaging testing excluded alternative causes of this neuromuscular syndrome. Prompted by clues provided by family members, liquid chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry was used to investigate for the presence of poison hemlock.

RESULTS

Testing of the residue in a jar used for the ingestion of a poisonous concoction confirmed the presence of the nicotinic alkaloid coniine. Analysis of patient serum suggested the presence of conhydrine. Concentrations of amitriptyline and diazepam were also found to be supratherapeutic, but only through the first few days of hospitalization.

CONCLUSIONS

Herein we describe a case of reversible coma, flaccid quadriparesis, and neuromuscular respiratory failure caused by intentional ingestion of poison hemlock.