Acute Kidney Injury Following Ingestion of Raw Fish Gallbladder of Indian Crap (Labeo Rohita): Thirty Case Series During 1975-2018.

INTRODUCTION

Ayurveda describes using desiccated and well-processed gallbladder of Indian carp (Labeorohita) as a traditional remedy for some diseases. People consume it irrationally following the hearsay advice for all types of chronic diseases.

METHODS

Here we report 30 sporadic cases of acute kidney injury (AKI) following ingestion of raw gallbladder of Indian carp during 1975-2018 (44 years).

RESULTS

Most of the victims were males (83.3%) with an average age of 37.7 years. The mean onset of symptoms was 2 to 12 hours after ingestion. All patients presented as acute gastroenteritis and AKI. Among them, 22 (73.33%) needed urgent dialysis, and 18 (81.81%) of them recovered with four (18.18%) deaths. Eight patients (26.6%) were managed conservatively, of which seven (87.5%) recovered with one (12.5%) death. Septicemia, myocarditis, and acute respiratory distress syndrome were the causes of death.

CONCLUSIONS

This longest four-decade case series highlights that indiscriminate ingestion of raw fish gallbladder by unqualified prescription results in toxic AKI with multiple organ dysfunction and death.