Ching-Kit Chan, Richard Li, HP Shum, Stanley HK Lo, Kenny KC Chan, KS Wong, TH Tsoi, WW Yan
Department of Medicine & Department of Intensive Care, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital (PYNEH), Chai Wan, Hong Kong
Hong Kong Med J 2009;15:149-52
Dr Ching-Kit CHAN is a Specialist in Nephrology. He was trained in the Department of Medicine of PYNEH and had also rotated to work in the Department of Intensive Care of PYNEH. He is now serving in United Christian Hospital, Hong Kong.
We report on a case of an elderly woman with chronic renal impairment, secondary to diabetic nephropathy, who developed a deep coma and seizure shortly after consumption of star fruit. She was managed in the intensive care unit,
and her consciousness level improved dramatically after an 8-hour charcoal haemoperfusion and 30 hours of continuous haemofiltration. There were no long-term neurological or renal sequelae 9 months later. Early recognition of this condition, intensive dialytic therapy and supportive measures, as well as early initiation of charcoal haemoperfusion may improve the management of this potentially treatable condition.
Key words: Diabetic nephropathies; Food poisoning; Fruit/poisoning; Kidney
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