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Acute Veratrum Poisoning: A Case Report and Literature Review
Yan Ren1,2, Xiaoyan Xian3*, Fang Chen2
1Department of Emergency Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
2Department of Emergency, Shang Jin Hospital of West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
3Department of Emergency, West China Tianfu Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
Corresponding Author: Xiaoyan Xian
Address: Department of Emergency, West China Tianfu Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610213, China.
Received date: 05 July 2025; Accepted date: 22 July 2025; Published date: 29 July 2025
Citation: Ren Y, Xian X, Chen F. Acute Veratrum Poisoning: A Case Report and Literature Review. Asp Biomed Clin Case Rep. 2025 Jul 29;8(2):173-79.
Copyright © 2025 Ren Y, Xian X, Chen F. This is an open-access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium provided the original work is properly cited.
Keywords: Veratrum Poisoning, Steroidal Alkaloids, Sinus Bradycardia, Atropine Infusion, Phytotoxicity
Abstract
Background: Veratrum poisoning represents a rare form of botanical intoxication; however, due to its recognized medicinal properties and widespread distribution, documented case reports of intoxication have been published in multinational medical literature.
Case Presentation: We report a case of an 80-year-old geriatric patient who presented with dizziness, palpitations, and nausea following ingestion of a Veratrum nigrum decoction. Admission electrocardiogram revealed sinus bradycardia (HR <60 bpm), sinus arrhythmia, a prolonged QT interval, and abnormal T waves in the anteroseptal and lateral leads. Normal sinus rhythm was restored after 7 hours of continuous intravenous atropine infusion.
Conclusion: Patients with a history of therapeutic use of Veratrum-based preparations or foraging of wild herbs require vigilance for Veratrum poisoning. Atropine serves as an established antidote in such intoxications, with continuous intravenous infusion considered for severe cases exhibiting profound cardiovascular compromise.