title: [Severe encephalopathy after taking a "phytopharmacon" from Vietnam].
abstract: METHODS
  A 59-year-old woman went into coma after she had taken a phytopharmacon from Vietnamese generally used as an antidiabetic drug to treat her skin disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  CT-scans revealed signs of pneumonia and cerebral edema. Severe brain damage was diagnosed by MRI-investigation. By chemical-toxicological analysis of the drug glibenclamide was identified in a concentration of 1.1 mg/g.
  
  
  METHODS
  The patient developed severe irreversible encephalopathy. By neurorehabilitative treatment her physical status slightly improved, but she died after 13 months without regaining consciousness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The cause of losing consciousness remained unclear, however, severe hypoglycaemia following the use of the drug may be taken into account. An urgent warning against the use of such preparations is highly recommended.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Rechtsmedizin, Klinikum der Universität Frankfurt/Main. toennes@em.uni-frankfurt.de
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Toennes
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Pogoda
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Druckmiller
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schwimmbeck
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mebs
mesh_terms: D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003128:Coma / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D005905:Glyburide / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014744:Vietnam
chemical_list: D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D005905:Glyburide