Clinical and Medical Case Reports

Hepatic Cytolysis Induced by Percutaneous Application of Atractylis Gummifera: About a Case

Abstract

Oumaima El Qabissi, Asmaa Alaoui Mdaghri, Yamna Kriouile and Aicha Chaibi

Object: The thistle is an herbaceous plant known for its toxicity; it contains two diterpenic heterosides the Atractyloside and the carboxyatractyloside, which are mitochondrial poisons, disrupting cellular respiration. The clinical manifestations of thistle poisoning are digestive, neurological and hematological disorders. But there are also mild forms of poisoning. We report the case of a 9 month old female infant with no personal and family medical pathological history, admitted to the PII service in a table of jet vomiting associated with consciousness disorders and hypoglycaemia, the biochemical assessment found hepatic cytolysis. The history revealed the notion of local administration of thistle in powder form on diaper rash of the infant. The outcome was favorable with symptomatic treatment based on N-acetyl cysteine.

Conclusion: The use of phytotherapy can induce very significant toxic incidents. Prevention and public awareness remains one of the most effective ways to address this great problem.