Near-fatal poisoning after ricin injection

Abstract

Objective

To report a near-fatal poisoning after intentional injection of ricin from a castor bean (Ricinus communis) extract.

Case report

A 21 year-old man self-injected ∼3 mL of a castor bean extract intramuscularly and subcutaneously in the left antecubital fossa. Upon admission to our ED (1 h post-exposure; day 1, D1) he was awake and alert, but complained of mild local pain and showed slight local edema and erythema. He evolved to refractory shock (∼24 h post-exposure) that required the administration of a large volume of fluids and high doses of norepinephrine and vasopressin, mainly from D2 to D4. During this period, he developed clinical and laboratory features compatible with systemic inflammatory response syndrome, multiple organ dysfunction, capillary leak syndrome, rhabdomyolysis, necrotizing fasciitis and possible compartment syndrome. The patient underwent forearm fasciotomy on D4 and there was progressive improvement of the hemodynamic status from D7 onwards. Wound management involved several debridements, broad-spectrum antibiotics and two skin grafts. Major laboratory findings within 12 days post-exposure revealed hypoalbuminemia, proteinuria, thrombocytopenia, leukocytosis and increases in cytokines (IL-6, IL-10 and TNF-α), troponin and creatine kinase. Ricin A-chain (ELISA) was detected in serum up to D3 (peak at 24 h post-exposure), with ∼79% being excreted in the urine within 64 h post-exposure. Ricinine was detected in serum and urine by LC-MS up to D5. A ricin A-chain concentration of 246 µg/mL was found in the seed extract, corresponding to the injection of ∼738 µg of ricin A-chain (∼10.5 µg/kg). The patient was discharged on D71, with limited range of motion and function of the left forearm and hand.

Conclusion

Ricin injection resulted in a near-fatal poisoning that evolved with septic shock-like syndrome, multiple organ dysfunction and necrotizing fasciitis, all of which were successfully treated with supportive care.

Keywords:

• Castor seeds
• necrotizing fasciitis
• ricin
• ricinine
• systemic inflammatory response syndrome

Acknowledgments

We thank the various health professionals (nurses, intensivists, orthopedic and plastic surgeons, psychiatrists, physical therapists and the hospital wound care group) who were extensively involved in the management and recovery of this patient.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).