Excerpt

There are more than 2,000 species of mushrooms worldwide of which approximately 50 are toxic for humans. Most of the cases of fatal mushroom poisoning in the world occur after the ingestion of Amanita species, primarily of Amanita phalloides [1]. There are three main groups of toxins in these mushrooms: amatoxins, phallotoxins, and virotoxins. The main toxins responsible for fatal poisoning are amatoxins, which are not destroyed by cooking and interact with RNA polymerase II, inhibiting protein synthesis at the transcription level in eukaryotic cells [2]. The major effects of amatoxins are seen in cells with a rapid metabolic turnover and protein synthesis, such as intestinal mucosa, hepatocytes, and renal tubular epithelial cells. The severity of mushroom poisoning depends on the type of mushroom eaten, the time lag between consumption and admission to hospital, and the rapid and appropriate treatment given to the patient. Amatoxin has no specific antidote, therefore medical treatment with various drugs inhibiting intestinal absorption of the toxins and supportive therapy decreasing liver and kidney damage are currently used for treatment. It is well-established that mushroom poisoning causes damage in the kidneys, liver, and central nervous system. Here, we present the first case of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction associated with mushroom poisoning. …