Clinical presentation of non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction in the course of intoxication with mad honey

Cardiovascular, psychiatric, and neurological phenomena seen in mad honey disease: A clinical case report

Mad Honey Disease is characterized by intoxication symptoms secondary to over-ingestion of grayanotoxin found in honey produced from rhododendron nectar. Cardiovascular symptoms are common, but psychiatric and neurological phenomena are rarely seen in this condition. Our case details a patient who presented with florid symptomology in all three aforementioned areas.

Mad honey: uses, intoxicating/poisoning effects, diagnosis, and treatment

Honey has been used as a folk medicine since 2100 BC; however, mad honey is different from normal natural or commercially available honey as it is contaminated with grayanotoxins, which leads to intoxication/poisoning upon consumption. Grayanotoxin is generally found in Rhododendron genus (family: Ericaceae) and is extracted by bees from nectar and pollens of flowers. Mad honey has been commonly used as an aphrodisiac (sexual stimulant), in alternative therapy for gastrointestinal disorders (peptic ulcer disease, dyspepsia, and gastritis), and for hypertension for a long time. Grayanotoxin acts on sodium ion channels and muscarinic receptors, leading to cardiac disorders (hypotension and different rhythm disorders including bradycardia, bradydysrhythmias, atrial fibrillation, nodal rhythm, atrioventricular block, and complete atrioventricular block) and respiratory depression. Patients may also exhibit any one symptom out of or combination of dizziness, blurred vision, diplopia, nausea, vomiting, vertigo, headache, sweating/excessive perspiration, extremity paresthesia, impaired consciousness, convulsion, hypersalivation, ataxia, inability to stand, and general weakness. Mad honey intoxication is diagnosed with honey intake history before the appearance of the signs and symptoms (clinical presentation), and the treatment is symptomatic. Prompt treatment includes intravenous infusions of atropine sulfate and fluids (saline infusions or simultaneous infusion of saline with atropine sulfate) if the patient presents bradycardia and severe hypotension. In case of a complete atrioventricular block, a temporary pacemaker is employed. Except for a single case from Lanping County (Southwest China), the prognosis for mad honey intoxication is very good, and no fatalities have been reported in modern medical literature excluding a few in the 1800s. Although fatalities are very rare, mad honey ingestion may still lead to arrhythmias, which can be life-threatening and hard to recognize. This article provides a brief introduction to honey, mad honey and its uses, the effects of mad honey intoxication/poisoning, and its diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment.

Honey has been used as a folk medicine since 2100 BC; however, mad honey is different from normal natural or commercially available honey as it is contaminated with grayanotoxins, which leads to intoxication/poisoning upon consumption.

Mad honey intoxication: A systematic review on the 1199 cases

Mad honey, produced by honeybees from the nectars of Rhododendron genus (R. ponticum and R. luteum) flowers, is widely used in indigenous medicine, especially in the treatment of hypertension and sexual dysfunction. However, the consumption of this honey can result in intoxication soon after. The diagnosis of honey poisoning and a full understanding of its treatment is important for both effective and immediate treatment, and also for the prevention of unnecessary costs. Upon the evaluation of approximately 34 years of case reports between 1981 and 2014, it was found that the cases of poisoning were more frequently reported in males (75.17%) and between the ages 41 to 65. The most common complaints related to honey poisoning were dizziness, nausea, presyncope and the ECG findings were: sinus bradycardia (79.58%), complete atrioventricular block (45.83%), atrioventricular block (30.91%), ST-segment elevation (22.63%), and nodal rhythm (11.27%), As a result of the evaluation of 1199 cases, it was found that no deaths were reported. The patients were most frequently treated with 0.5 mg atropine (37.79%), 1 mg atropine (49.73%), salin (iv fluid) (65.35%), and generally the patients were discharged within 24 h after recovery.

Clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with grayanotoxin poisoning after the ingestion of mad honey from Nepal

The aims of this study were to evaluate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with grayanotoxin poisoning due to mad honey brought from Nepal. Medical records of patients with mad honey poisoning admitted to the emergency department between 1 January 2004 and 31 May 2012 were retrospectively reviewed. A total of 15 patients were included in this study. In all patients, mad honey was brought from the Himalayan region of Nepal. The mean age was 52.2 years, and 66.7 % were men. The mean amount of mad honey ingested was 47 cc, and the mean time from ingestion to onset of symptoms was 36 min. In all patients, initial vital signs showed hypotension and bradycardia. The initial electrocardiogram showed sinus bradycardia in eight patients, junctional bradycardia in four patients, complete atrioventricular block in two patients, and atrial fibrillation with slow ventricular response in one patient. Four patients were treated with intravenous normal saline solution only. Eleven patients were treated with intravenous normal saline solution and intravenous atropine sulfate in a dose ranging from 0.5 to 2.0 mg. In all patients, the blood pressure and pulse rate returned to normal limits within 24 h. There were no deaths. The clinical characteristics and outcome of grayanotoxin poisonings caused by the ingestion of mad honey from Nepal are similar with those of mad honey from the Black Sea region of Turkey.

Grayanotoxin (mad honey) - ongoing consumption after poisoning

BACKGROUND

Some honey types in certain geographical regions may cause toxic effects on people. This type of honey is known as "mad honey" in Turkey. The toxic ingredient of this honey is called Grayanotoxin I. The consumption of mad honey can cause severe bradycardia, hypotension, dizziness, nausea and vomiting.

AIMS

Our study is aimed at analysing patients diagnosed with mad honey poisoning and their behaviour towards the consumption of this honey after diagnosis.

STUDY DESIGN

Cross sectional study.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was based on complaints and findings of mad honey poisoning. Patient information and findings at the time of admission were compared with those at one month after discharge through telephone interviews. They were asked if either they or their relatives had continued consuming the same honey. Frequency data such as gender, purpose of honey consumption, first complaints and continuance of honey consumption are shown as number (n) and percentage (%). A Chi Square test was conducted to determine the difference between groups.

RESULTS

38 patients were participated in this study; 18 of the patients had to be followed up in a coronary intensive care unit. We were able to reach 34 patients by phone after discharge. It was found that 12 of 16 patients discharged after emergency unit observation or their close relatives were continuing to consume mad honey, whereas 16 (88.9%) of the 18 patients under coronary intensive care had discontinued consuming mad honey. The difference in the continuation of mad honey consumption between patient groups followed-up in the intensive care unit and those discharged after emergency observation was statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

Hazards associated with and serious consequences following the consumption of mad honey must be clearly explained to patients who are found to be consuming mad honey.

Slow ventricular response atrial fibrillation related to mad honey poisoning

Mad honey poisoning which is induced by Grayanotoxin (Andromedotoxin), is also known to have adverse effects in the cardiovascular system leading to different clinical entities. This toxin is produced by a member of the Rhododendron genus of plants of two R. Luteum and R. Panticum. In this article, we presented a case of slow ventricular response atrial fibrillation complaints with nausea, vomiting, dizziness and chest pain about an hour after eating honey produced in the Black Sea Region.