A New Risk Factor for Hepatic Encephalopathy: Ingestion of Mad Honey

Abstract

Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a neuropsychiatric syndrome that occurs in the severe liver dysfunction and is characterized by a wide range of central nervous system symptoms. HE precipitated with mostly infections, gastrointestinal bleeding, diuretic overdose, electrolyte imbalance, constipation and drugs. Traditional local foods for example honey can contain toxins for the liver and could cause acute decompensation in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD). This toxins can cause dose related severe symptoms. Spectrum of the symptoms are from nausea vomiting to life threatening bradycardia and/or hypotension. In this paper; we reported first time in English literature a cirrhotic case with HE due to consumption of mad honey.

Keywords

• Grayanotoxins (GTS)
• hepatic encephalopathy (HE)
• mad honey (MH)

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