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Aconite Poisoning over 5 Years

A Case Series in Hong Kong and Lessons Towards Herbal Safety

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Abstract

Background: Aconite poisoning is a severe, life-threatening poisoning related to the use of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Despite current legislation, repeated poisoning cases are steadily encountered.

Objective: The aim of the study was to summarize the clinical features and to elucidate the causative and contributory factors leading to aconite poisoning.

Methods: This study was conducted within the Hospital Authority Toxicology Reference Laboratory, which is the sole tertiary referral clinical toxicology laboratory in Hong Kong. This retrospective study reviewed all confirmed aconite poisoning cases handled by a clinical toxicology laboratory between April 2004 and July 2009. The diagnosis in all cases was confirmed biochemically by detecting aconitum alkaloids in urine specimens. Additionally, herbal specimens were morphologically identified and herbal formulae were studied and transcribed. The cause of poisoning for each case was determined whenever possible.

Results: Fifty-two cases were examined in this aconite poisoning case series. Neurological, cardiovascular and gastrointestinal toxicities were encountered in 49 (94.2%), 46 (88.5%) and 31 (59.6%) patients, respectively. The poisoning was severe in 6 (11.5%) patients, moderate in 17 (32.7%) patients and mild in 29 (55.8%) patients. Amongst 44 patients (84.6%) in whom the underlying reasons of poisoning could be determined, four major causes were found. These included overdose- prescription of a higher than recommended dosage of aconite herbs in 17 (32.7%) cases; ‘hidden’ poisoning (the aconite herb was not prescribed but dispensed inadvertently) in 17 (32.7%) cases; usage of inadequately processed herbs in 7 (13.5%) cases; and dispensary error in 2 (3.9%) cases. No case fatality was recorded.

Conclusion: In the majority of cases in this series, the causes of poisoning can be traced to poor-quality herbs, poor quality of prescription practice, or dispensary errors. The quality issues of TCM practice should be critically addressed to minimize this poisoning threat.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the technical staff who handled the specimens and helped in analytical work.

We declare that we have no conflict of interest. No sources of funding were used to conduct this study or prepare this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hospital Authority Toxicology Reference Laboratory, Princess Margaret Hospital, Lai King Hill Road, Laichikok, Hong Kong

    Sammy Pak Lam Chen, Sau Wah Ng, Wing Tat Poon, Chi Kong Lai, Albert Yan Wo Chan &  Tony Wing Lai Mak

  2. Chief Pharmacist’s Office, Hospital Authority, Hong Kong

    Teresa Man Shan Ngan

  3. Hong Kong Poison Information Centre, Hospital Authority, Hong Kong

    Man Li Tse

  4. Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

    Thomas Yan Keung Chan

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  1. Sammy Pak Lam Chen
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  2. Sau Wah Ng
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Correspondence to Tony Wing Lai Mak.

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Chen, S.P.L., Ng, S.W., Poon, W.T. et al. Aconite Poisoning over 5 Years. Drug Saf 35, 575–587 (2012). https://doi.org/10.2165/11597470-000000000-00000

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2165/11597470-000000000-00000

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