Ethylene glycol poisoning

Forensic Sci Int. 2007 Aug 6;170(2-3):213-5. doi: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2007.03.025. Epub 2007 Jul 16.

Abstract

A 40-year-old man was admitted to the emergency department after a suicide attempt. The patient was found at home unconscious, with an open bottle of antifreeze near him. The patient was in a coma on admission, but neurological examination excluded intracranial changes. Results of initial urine and serum toxicological screening tests were negative. Laboratory values indicated metabolic acidosis, leukocytosis, urinalysis revealed hematuria and unrecognized crystals. Osmolality and osmol gap were not determined on patient admission. Treatment with ethanol as an antidote and hemodialysis were started because of metabolic acidosis, anamnestic data and clinical status of the patient, and subsequently led to improvement of his condition. Further toxicological analyses of glycolic and oxalic acids in serum and urine samples were performed by ion-chromatography (IC) method and showed high values in spot urine and serum ultrafiltrate at admission, but during therapy the values progressively decreased. Treatment of poisoned patient for 3 weeks resulted in complete recovery.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Acidosis / chemically induced
  • Acidosis / therapy
  • Adult
  • Antidotes / therapeutic use
  • Ethanol / therapeutic use
  • Ethylene Glycol / adverse effects
  • Ethylene Glycol / poisoning*
  • Forensic Toxicology
  • Hematuria / chemically induced
  • Humans
  • Leukocytosis / chemically induced
  • Male
  • Poisoning / therapy
  • Renal Dialysis
  • Suicide, Attempted*

Substances

  • Antidotes
  • Ethanol
  • Ethylene Glycol