Manejo de la intoxicación por celidonia (Chelidonium Majus L.) en los servicios de Urgencias

Abstract

Greater celandine is a plant that grows wild in our area and it is sold freely on the web. It is used in traditional Chinese medicine and in phytotherapy, for example, to treat several dermatological disorders, as anti-inflammatory and as antispasmodic. If ingested, it can produce toxicity, as acute kidney injury, tetany, paresis or acute hepatitis, among others. After our bibliographical review, we recommend that a complete physical examination to the patient is performed in Emergency service, blood test —including hematometry, coagulation and biochemistry which includes ions (sodium, potassium and calcium), also albumin, creatinine, urea, transaminases, bilirubin, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)— and a urine test.A specific antidote is not available; therefore, treatment will be symptomatic and supportive. If the patient remains asymptomatic, we recommend observation for 4-6 hours.