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Acute Kidney Failure and Myocarditis Triggered by Magic Mushroom Toxicity in a Patient With Prior Cocaine Exposure

Summary

A middle-aged man who used magic mushrooms along with alcohol and LSD developed severe kidney failure and heart inflammation. He had previously used cocaine, which made his condition worse by promoting blood clots throughout his body. Despite dialysis treatment, his kidneys stopped working, he developed heart problems and blood clots in major blood vessels, and he unfortunately passed away. This case highlights how dangerous it can be to mix magic mushrooms with other drugs, especially for people with a history of cocaine use.

Background

Magic mushroom poisoning is generally considered to have low toxicity, with adverse events typically being neuropsychiatric and self-limited. However, rare but serious systemic toxicity cases have been documented, including acute kidney injury requiring renal replacement therapy. Cocaine use is known to cause both venous and arterial thrombosis through vasoconstrictive and prothrombotic effects.

Objective

This case report describes a middle-aged patient with prior cocaine use who developed severe anuric acute kidney injury requiring dialysis after magic mushroom ingestion combined with alcohol and LSD. The report emphasizes the clinical course, investigative findings, management, and potential mechanisms of toxicity.

Results

The patient developed severe anuric acute kidney injury, myocarditis with reduced ejection fraction (35%), supraventricular tachycardia, elevated troponin T, and extensive thrombosis involving the abdominal aorta, superior mesenteric artery, bilateral iliac arteries, right kidney infarction, and pulmonary embolism. Despite hemodialysis and corticosteroid therapy, the patient’s condition progressively deteriorated.

Conclusion

This case illustrates the potential for severe multisystem toxicity from psilocybin-containing mushrooms, particularly with concomitant recreational substance use such as LSD or cocaine. Clinicians should maintain a broad differential diagnosis for unexplained acute kidney injury and actively inquire about recreational drug use to facilitate timely therapeutic intervention.
  • Published in:Cureus,
  • Study Type:Case Report,
  • Source: PMID: 41393631, DOI: 10.7759/cureus.96718
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