Oleander tea: herbal draught of death.
A woman died after drinking herbal tea prepared from oleander (Nerium oleander) leaves. This case demonstrates the cross-reactivity between the cardiac glycosides in oleander and the digoxin radioimmunoassay. Digoxin-specific Fab antibody fragments have not been used in oleander poisoning, but these might prove to be lifesaving. Treatment of oleander toxicity is aimed at controlling arrhythmias and hyperkalemia; inactivation of the Na-K ATPase pump, however, can make treatment difficult.
D000328:Adult; D001628:Beverages / Q000506:poisoning*; D002301:Cardiac Glycosides / Q000097:blood / Q000506:poisoning; D003429:Cross Reactions; D004077:Digoxin / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010939:Plant Poisoning / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D011863:Radioimmunoassay
D002301:Cardiac Glycosides; D004077:Digoxin