title: Two Cases of Fulminant Hepatic Failure from Amanita phalloides Poisoning Treated Additively by Homeopathy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Intoxication with Amanita phalloides is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Treatment therapies include general support, toxin elimination, pharmacotherapy with agents such as the hepatoprotective agent silibinin, and, in extreme states, liver transplantation. Despite these therapeutic interventions, mortality remains relatively high.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present reports of 2 patients with severe hepatic failure following intoxication with Amanita phalloides. Both patients were admitted to the intensive care unit; 1 patient suffered from hepatic failure solely, and the second patient experienced severe 5-organ failure. In addition to conventional intensive care treatment, both patients were treated additively with classical homeopathy. The 2 patients survived without any residual pathological sequelae.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on the 2 cases, including 1 extreme situation, we suggest that adjunctive homeopathic treatment has a role in the treatment of acute Amanita phalloides-induced toxicity following mushroom poisoning. Additional studies may clarify a more precise dosing regimen, standardization, and better acceptance of homeopathic medicine in the intensive care setting.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine I, Intensive Care Unit, Medical University of Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Frass
authors.affiliation: Anesthesiology and Toxicology, Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Hospital for Active Therapy, Shumen, Bulgaria.
authors.forename: Petko
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zagorchev
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine, Clinic for Homeopathy, Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
authors.forename: Vasilka
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Yurukova
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine I, Intensive Care Unit, Medical University of Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Beatrix
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wulkersdorfer
authors.affiliation: Sola Salus, Institute for Homeopathic Research, Geilenkirchen, Germany.
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Thieves
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine I, Intensive Care Unit, Medical University of Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Konstantin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zedtwitz-Liebenstein
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine I, Institute of Cancer Research, Medical University of Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Willfried
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bursch
authors.affiliation: Departments of Anesthesiology and Pharmacology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA.
authors.forename: Alan David
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Kaye
keywords: Amanitins; homeopathy; toxins–biological; toxophallin–Amanita phalloides