Hemolytic uremic syndrome caused by sea anemone sting: a case report

Background Some sea anemone toxins cause renal injuries resembling hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). To date, only a few cases of HUS caused by sea anemone stings have been reported. In this case report, we have described an HUS case caused by a sea anemone sting. Case presentation In November 2019, a 37-year-old man with no underlying disease was admitted to our hospital. He presented with intense pain, a rash on, and swelling in his right thigh. Two days prior, he had been stung by a sea anemone while scuba diving in Cebu, Philippines. His blood tests revealed renal dysfunction, and his platelet count was normal. However, on day three, the platelet count decreased rapidly. His blood haptoglobin level decreased, and schistocytes were identified on the peripheral blood smear. We suspected thrombotic microangiopathy and started the conventional treatment, comprising hemodialysis, blood transfusion, and antibiotic administration. ADAMTS-13 and genetic test results associated with atypical HUS were normal. Therefore, the patient was diagnosed with HUS caused by a sea anemone toxin. Conclusions HUS caused by a sea anemone toxin is rare, but it is a serious medical disease. Clinicians should consider HUS in patients with such clinical presentations, and they should make prompt treatment-related decisions.

The specificity of Av3 sea anemone toxin for arthropods is determined at linker DI/SS2–S6 in the pore module of target sodium channels

A sodium channel determinant that dictates the specificity of Av3 sea anemone toxin for arthropods was identified using channel-swapping experiments and mutagenesis. This finding provides a clue as to the receptor site of Av3 on the sodium channel.

The sea anemone toxin AdE-1 modifies both sodium and potassium currents of rat cardiomyocytes

AdE-1 modifies both Na+ and K+ currents in rat cardiomyocytes. Although the effects on the Na+ current are not exclusively different from other anemone toxins, its additional effect on the K+ current is a novel phenomenon which has not yet been reported.