Acute Renal Failure Due to Tubular Necrosis Caused by Wildfowl-Mediated Hemlock Poisoning

Abstract

We report the clinical and histological findings in patients with acute renal failure caused by the ingestion of wildfowl who had eaten hemlock buds. Neurotoxic effects were accompanied by rhabdomyolysis, myoglobinuria, and acute tubular necrosis. Histological studies showed diffuse degeneration of the tubular epithelium. Immunohistological studies demonstrated the presence of myoglobin and actin in renal tubular cells.