Haff Time: fish-induced rhabdomyolysis

Buffalo fish (Ictiobus cyprinellus) 3 out of 5 stars Haff Disease: Rhabdomyolysis After Eating Buffalo Fish. Herman LL, Bies C. West J Emerg Med 2014 Sept;15:664-6. Abstract Haff Disease was first described in 1924 after an outbreak of acute muscle rigidity accompanied by dark  urine among patients living near the Königsberger Haff shores along the Baltic Coast.  Similar cases occurred in the following summers along the haff (a shallow lagoon.) Most victims gave a history of recently ingesting various fish — burbot, eel, pike, etc. Cases of rhabdomyolysis after ingesting fish were not reported in the United States until 1984. Most were associated with eating freshwater buffalo fish. Haff disease is diagnosed when a patient develops rhabdomyolysis without another etiology within 24 hours of eating fish. The toxin causing the condition has not been identified, but appears to be heat-stable since cooking does not prevent illness. Common presenting signs and symptoms include back pain, chest pain, sweating, dyspnea, nausea and vomiting. This case report, from Resurrection Hospital in Chicago, describes a 34-year-0ld woman who presented with chest pain, back pain and vomiting after consuming cooked buffalo fish. Evaluation revealed markedly elevated myoglobin and creatine kinase levels. Chest CT was unremarkable and troponin levels were normal. The paper makes the following important points: Because of the presentation, life-threatening conditions such as acute coronary s...
Source: The Poison Review - Category: Toxicology Authors: Tags: Medical fish poisoning haff disease palytoxin rhabdomyolysis Source Type: news