Two cases of incidental Podostroma cornu-damae poisoning

Clin Exp Emerg Med. 2016 Sep 30;3(3):186-189. doi: 10.15441/ceem.15.028. eCollection 2016 Sep.

Abstract

Podostroma cornu-damae is a rare, deadly fungus. However, it can be easily mistaken for antler Ganoderma lucidum. In this case report, two patients made tea with the fungus and drank it over a 2-week period. Both patients presented with bicytopenia, and one patient had desquamation of the palms and soles. Both were treated with prophylactic antibiotics and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. One patient was admitted to the intensive care unit and received a platelet transfusion. Both patients were discharged without complications. Podostroma cornu-damae infections caused by intoxication were successfully treated using our treatment strategy, which consisted of prophylactic antibiotics, platelet transfusion, and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. We believe this report can guide future treatment.

Keywords: Alopecia; Desquamation; Mushroom; Pancytopenia; Podostroma cornu-damae.