title: A digoxin-like immunoreactive substance and atrioventricular block induced by a Chinese medicine "kyushin".
abstract: The attempted suicide by 2 women with a kyushin overdose is reported. Kyushin caused them to produce a significant elevation of a serum digoxin-like immunoreactive substance (2.35 and 1.84 ng/ml) and symptoms of nausea, vomiting and general malaise. Their blood biochemistry and electrolytes were normal. In one patient, an electrocardiogram revealed a second degree Wenckebach atrioventricular block and T-wave change. Toad venom, a kyushin ingredient, is possibly responsible for the development of these clinical features and electrocardiographic changes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Chung Shan Medical & Dental College Hospital, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Shieh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000664:Amphibian Venoms / Q000506:poisoning; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D002298:Cardenolides; D004077:Digoxin / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000506:poisoning*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006327:Heart Block / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D012503:Saponins; D013406:Suicide, Attempted
chemical_list: D000664:Amphibian Venoms; D001798:Blood Proteins; D002298:Cardenolides; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D012503:Saponins; C034504:digoxin-like factors; D004077:Digoxin