title: Toxalbumin exposures: 12 years' experience of U.S. poison centers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Toxalbumins are natural plant toxins purported to be highly toxic. The purpose was to evaluate toxalbumin exposures reported to U.S. poison centers to determine plants involved and their toxicities.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review of National Poison Data System data on acute toxalbumin exposures with known outcomes from 2000 through 2011 was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 1164 exposures. The majority involved one route (1135; 97.5%), mostly ingestions (904; 79.7%) or dermal (166; 14.3%). Most patients developed no effects (694; 59.6%) or minor effects (374; 32.1%). Moderate or major effects occurred in 8.3% with 66.6% ingestions and 23.9% dermal. There were no deaths. Exposures to the plants Ricinus communis and Robinia pseudoacacia were most common (33.8% and 32.9%, respectively), with gastrointestinal effects from R. communis (vomiting 19.6%, diarrhea 8.9%, nausea 7.9%) and dermal effects from R. pseudoacacia (puncture 28.7%, dermal irritation/pain 27.9%, and edema 13.3%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While toxalbumin plant exposures were generally well-tolerated, continued evaluation of risk is warranted since plants were primarily identified by the public. Major effects occurred in under 1% of cases overall, and not at all following unintentional ingestions. These findings should help allay concerns that unintentional ingestions of toxalbumin plants by young children will cause serious toxicity and possibly death.
authors: Maryland Poison Center, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, USA.
authors: Mingzohn Ellen
authors: ME
authors: Kaland
authors: Maryland Poison Center, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, USA. Electronic address: wkleinsc@rx.umaryland.edu.
authors: Wendy
authors: W
authors: Klein-Schwartz
authors: Maryland Poison Center, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, USA.
authors: Bruce D
authors: BD
authors: Anderson
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D058070:Asymptomatic Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D002367:Ricinus communis / Q000633:toxicity*; D002648:Child; D016208:Databases, Factual; D003877:Dermatitis, Contact / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000633:toxicity; D037121:Plant Lectins / Q000633:toxicity*; D010939:Plant Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D011039:Poison Control Centers; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012276:Ricin / Q000633:toxicity*; D031301:Robinia / Q000633:toxicity*; D014118:Toxins, Biological / Q000633:toxicity*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D009498:Neurotoxins; D037121:Plant Lectins; C047720:Robinia lectin; D014118:Toxins, Biological; D012276:Ricin
keywords: Black locust; Castor bean; Poisoning; Ricin