Podophyllum Toxicity: A Report of a Fatal Case and a Review of the Literature

A 59-yr-old male ingested 10 g of podophyllum in a fatal suicide attempt. Previously unreported nuclear and cytoplasmic changes were observed in circulating leukocytes. Symptoms did not occur until 10 hours after ingestion with loss of reflexes, coma, and a marked lactic acidosis. Despite hemoperfusion, the patient expired 39 hours after ingestion. The literature on podophyllum toxicity is reviewed.