Unusual Cause of Rhabdomyolysis Causing Acute Renal Failure: Achillea millefolium and Rheum palmatum Plants
Tamer Sakaci
Department of Nephrology, Sisli Etfal Research and Educational Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
Yener Koc *
Department of Nephrology, Sisli Etfal Research and Educational Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
Taner Basturk
Department of Nephrology, Sisli Etfal Research and Educational Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
Ayse Sinangil
Department of Nephrology, Sisli Etfal Research and Educational Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
Elbis Ahbap
Department of Nephrology, Sisli Etfal Research and Educational Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
Ekrem Kara
Department of Nephrology, Sisli Etfal Research and Educational Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
Mustafa Sevinc
Department of Nephrology, Sisli Etfal Research and Educational Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
Cuneyt Akgol
Department of Nephrology, Sisli Etfal Research and Educational Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
Tuncay Sahutoglu
Department of Nephrology, Sisli Etfal Research and Educational Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
Zuhal Atan Ucar
Department of Nephrology, Sisli Etfal Research and Educational Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
Arzu Ozdemir Kayalar
Department of Nephrology, Sisli Etfal Research and Educational Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
Feyza Bayraktar Caglayan
Department of Nephrology, Sisli Etfal Research and Educational Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
Abdulkadir Ünsal
Department of Nephrology, Sisli Etfal Research and Educational Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Introduction: Rhabdomyolysis is a frequent disorder resulting from many different causes which may be apparent from the history, e.g. trauma, heavy exercise, intoxications. It contains both clinical and biochemical components. Acute kidney injury is probably the most significant and the most feared complication of rhabdomyolysis. Even though cases with rhabdomyolysis due to herbal medicine or extracts are reported; rhabdomyolysis because of consumption of plant itself is quite rare.
Case Presentations: Acute kidney injury in two otherwise healthy patients secondary to rhabdomyolysis is presented. Etiologic agents were determined as ingestion of plants named as “Yarrow” (Achillea millefolium) and “Turkish Rhubarb” (Rheum palmatum) growing especially in rural Southeastern Anatolia region of Turkey after all other possible causes of rhabdomylosis was ruled out. Hemodialysis was performed to both patients temporarily. Kidney damage was recovered eventually.
Conclusion: Herbal medicine and/or plants usage should be addressed in patients with rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney injury after all known etiologic reasons are ruled out.
Keywords: Rhabdomyolysis, acute kidney injury, plants, herbal medicine.