Acute cyanide toxicity caused by apricot kernel ingestion.
A 41-year-old woman ingested apricot kernels purchased at a health food store and became weak and dyspneic within 20 minutes. The patient was comatose and hypothermic on presentation but responded promptly to antidotal therapy for cyanide poisoning. She was later treated with a continuous thiosulfate infusion for persistent metabolic acidosis. This is the first reported case of cyanide toxicity from apricot kernel ingestion in the United States since 1979.
Suchard
J R
JR
Department of Medical Toxicology, Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, USA. jsuchard@samaritan.edu
Wallace
K L
KL
Gerkin
R D
RD
D000138:Acidosis / Q000139:chemically induced; D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000931:Antidotes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004638:Emergency Treatment / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D058870:Food, Organic / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D006856:Hydrogen Cyanide / Q000506:poisoning*; D011041:Poisoning / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D011042:Poisons; D012639:Seeds / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012977:Sodium Nitrite / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013885:Thiosulfates / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000931:Antidotes; D011042:Poisons; D013885:Thiosulfates; D006856:Hydrogen Cyanide; C017717:sodium thiosulfate; D012977:Sodium Nitrite