Post-mortem findings in 22 fatal Taxus baccata intoxications and a possible solution to its detection

Abstract

Background: The yew (Taxus baccata) is a common evergreen tree containing the toxin taxine B. Between 42 and 91 g of yew leaf is lethal to a 70-kg adult. The objective of this article is to present an overview of findings in fatal yew intoxications.

Methods: A search using MeSH terms was performed in PubMed for yew intoxications in the period between January 1960 and August of 2016.

Results: We describe a total of 22 cases. Fatal intoxications can be divided into intoxications by leaves, by pulp, by bark and by yew tea. Recognizing yew tea intoxication is difficult since tea no longer contains any botanically recognisable parts. In autopsy and external examination no characteristic findings are reported, regarding the presence of parts of plants.

Conclusions: Indications for yew tree intoxications at a post-mortem examination and autopsy are limited to finding parts of yew tree. The absence of recognisable parts can result in yew intoxications being overlooked. Therefore toxicological screening is recommended in unexplained deaths.

Keywords: Fatal poisoning; HPLC-DAD; Paclitaxel; Suicide; Taxus baccata; Yew.