A 46-year-old man, VP, who had a history of drug abuse and hepatitis C, consumed two pounds of licorice candy daily for three weeks. This led to a severe potassium deficiency (hypokalemia), causing his organs to fail and resulting in his death. The glycyrrhizic acid in licorice was responsible for the potassium loss, which affected his heart rhythm and caused muscle breakdown, ultimately leading to organ shutdown and brain damage. Despite medical intervention, VP passed away 32 hours after being admitted to the hospital. The case highlights the dangers of excessive licorice consumption.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. A man ate two pounds of licorice candy every day for three weeks.
2. He presented to the emergency room unconscious with an abnormal heart rhythm.
3. His heart stopped beating in the ambulance.
4. He had a history of drug use and was diagnosed with hepatitis C years ago.
5. He switched from eating fruit-flavored gummies to licorice.
6. He experienced muscle soreness in his right calf a few days before collapsing.
7. His neurology consult found his pupils were different sizes and sluggishly reactive to light.
8. A blood test revealed he had hypokalemia (low potassium presence in blood).
9. His liver cells were wasting away, leaking enzymes into his blood.
10. His muscles were melting away, affecting his heart and kidneys.
11. He had a high white blood cell count, suggesting inflammation or infection.
12. He suffered permanent organ damage due to lack of oxygen during cardiac arrest.
13. The licorice root contains glycyrrhizic acid, which disrupts potassium balance in the body when consumed in large amounts.
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