Acute hepatic injury and renal failure after ingestion of snake gallbladder.

Ingestion of snake gallbladder has been practiced in ancient Chinese civilizations to improve vision and relieve arthritic pain. Although little is known about the composition of snake gallbladder, ingestion is still practiced in some Chinese cultures. Adverse effects of ingesting snake gallbladder have not yet been reported. Here, we present a case of acute hepatic injury and delayed-onset renal failure after ingestion of snake gallbladders. The patient subsequently recovered after supportive care, combined with plasma exchange and hemodialysis. He was the only survivor of the four victims suffering from intoxication of snake gallbladder in the last three years in our hospital.