Osmolality.
An understanding of the osmotic physiology and colligative properties of a solution will benefit the emergency physician in proper ordering and interpretation of serum osmolality measurements. Though of use in evaluating disorders of water metabolism, the serum osmolality plays a major role in the Emergency Department evaluation of impaired mental status, especially in alcoholics. A significant discrepancy between calculated and measured values may be the earliest laboratory finding in methanol, ethanol, and ethylene glycol ingestion.
Epstein
F B
FB
D000433:1-Propanol / Q000378:metabolism; D001834:Body Water / Q000378:metabolism*; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002621:Chemistry; D004635:Emergency Medicine; D000431:Ethanol / Q000378:metabolism; D019855:Ethylene Glycol; D005026:Ethylene Glycols / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000432:Methanol / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D055585:Physical Phenomena; D010825:Physics
D005026:Ethylene Glycols; D000431:Ethanol; D000433:1-Propanol; D019855:Ethylene Glycol; D000432:Methanol