Efficiency of haemoperfusion materials at removing the fungal toxin orellanine from human plasma.

Orellanine is the main toxin of various Cortinarius mushrooms and responsible for their nephrotoxicity. The present study was undertaken to estimate the value of haemoperfusion in Cortinarius intoxications. The efficiency of the haemoperfusion materials activated charcoal (DHP-1) and Amberlite XAD 4 resin at removing orellanine from plasma was tested in an in vitro model. Quantification of the toxin in plasma samples was carried out following a previously reported fluorodensitometric TLC method. Orellanine is sufficiently bound to both haemoperfusion materials. However, the rate of orellanine adsorption was four times higher on activated charcoal (DHP-1) compared to Amberlite XAD 4 resin.