[Acute poisoning by Gyromitra esculenta (author's transl)].

This kind of poisoning is scarce in France, on the contrary it is most frequent in Eastern Europe. Clinical picture associating cytolytic hepatitis, seizures, and hemolysis reminds us intoxication by hydrazine. In fact there is some evidence that the toxin of this mushroom--called gyromitrin--is transformed in the stomach in methylhydrazine. The mechanism of hepatotoxicity of the later can be compared with that of the metabolites of isoniazid.