Datura delirium.
Poisoning with tropine alkaloids from cultivated plants and pharmaceuticals is an uncommon cause of delirium and coma. We report a patient with a toxic delirium following ingestion of the tropine alkaloid-containing root of Datura innoxia. Thin-layer chromatography and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry confirmed the presence of atropine and scopolamine in samples of the ingested root. Routine clinical toxin screens may not include an assay for tropine alkaloids. A specific tropine alkaloid assay may provide supporting evidence. The clinical, electroencephalographic, and therapeutic aspects of anticholinergic poisoning are discussed.
Hanna
J P
JP
Department of Neurology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio.
Schmidley
J W
JW
Braselton
W E
WE
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000470:Alkaloids / Q000506:poisoning*; D013286:Datura stramonium; D003693:Delirium / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010830:Physostigmine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010939:Plant Poisoning / Q000150:complications; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D010947:Plants, Toxic
D000470:Alkaloids; D010830:Physostigmine