Amanita mushroom poisoning with recovery from coma: a case report.

The incidence of Amanita mushroom poisoning seems to be increasing in the United States. Its neurological aspects contribute importantly to morbidity and mortality. In reported series, mortality has ranged from 50 to 90%, and survival following the appearance of coma was exceptional. The cause of nervous system involvement was uncertain. In the patient presented here, clinical and electroencephalographic observations were consistent with severe hepatic encephalopathy and correlated closely with liver function abnormalities. Despite the development of coma, full recovery followed the use of thioctic acid, an experimental therapeutic agent.