Ridker P M, Ohkuma S, McDermott W V, Trey C, Huxtable R J
Gastroenterology. 1985 Apr;88(4):1050-4. doi: 10.1016/s0016-5085(85)80027-5.
Venocclusive disease, a form of Budd-Chiari syndrome, was diagnosed in a 49-yr-old woman. The patient had portal hypertension associated with obliteration of the smaller hepatic venules. A liver biopsy specimen showed centrilobular necrosis and congestion. Analysis of food supplements the woman regularly consumed showed the presence of pyrrolizidine alkaloids. The major source was a powder purporting to contain ground comfrey root (Symphytum sp). We calculated that during the 6 mo before the woman was hospitalized, she had consumed a minimum of 85 mg of pyrrolizidine alkaloids (15 micrograms/kg body wt X day). The clinical and analytic findings were consistent with chronic pyrrolizidine intoxication, indicating that low-level, chronic exposure to such alkaloids can cause venocclusive disease.
肝小静脉闭塞病是布-加综合征的一种形式，在一名49岁女性中被诊断出来。该患者患有门静脉高压症，伴有较小肝小静脉闭塞。肝活检标本显示小叶中心坏死和充血。对该女性经常食用的食品补充剂分析显示含有吡咯里西啶生物碱。主要来源是一种声称含有磨碎的紫草科植物根（聚合草属）的粉末。我们计算出，在该女性住院前的6个月里，她至少摄入了85毫克吡咯里西啶生物碱（15微克/千克体重×天）。临床和分析结果与慢性吡咯里西啶中毒相符，表明低水平、长期接触此类生物碱可导致肝小静脉闭塞病。
