Buckthorn Polyneuropathy

KARWINSKIA HUMBOLTIANA ("tullidora," "wild cherry," "coyotillo" and so forth) is a poisonous shrub of the buckthorn family (Fig. 1) that grows in central and northern Mexico, and in Texas and New Mexico of the United States. The toxic effects of the plant were first reported by Clavijero1 in 1789; since then numerous reports have been published in Mexico.2 , 3 The clinical picture is that of a progressive and symmetrical polyneuropathy, starting in the lower limbs and ending with respiratory and bulbar paralysis. If the patient survives, there is a slow and progressive improvement to almost complete functional recovery. Although Padrón and . . .