Cucurbit Toxins Lead to Rapid and Severe Distributive Shock

This case report details a 47-year-old man who experienced severe distributive shock due to cucurbitacin toxicity after consuming Lagenaria siceraria in a health drink. His condition was marked by vomiting, diarrhea, and gastrointestinal hyperemia, leading to hypotension, hematochezia, and multiorgan dysfunction. The case underscores the critical need for swift diagnosis, aggressive hydration, and the importance of a comprehensive patient history to recognize the risks for cucurbitacin toxicity. It serves as a reminder for health care professionals to consider unconventional causes of shock and the urgency of appropriate early treatment.

Duke Scholars

Author Kathleen Elizabeth Batley Medicine, Hospital Medicine