Sublimed (inorganic) sulfur ingestion. A cause of life-threatening metabolic acidosis with a high anion gap.
We describe a 66-year-old woman undergoing hemodialysis treatment who developed life-threatening metabolic acidosis (pH of 6.67) with a high anion gap (41 mEq/L [41 mmol/L]) and marked hyperkalemia (9.1 mEq/L [9.1 mmol/L]) after consuming sulfur. Because of an increasing number of patients with chronic renal failure and dialysis-dependent end-stage renal disease, as well as persistence of folk remedies using sulfur, recognition of the potential dangers of self-administered sulfur seems appropriate.
D000136:Acid-Base Equilibrium; D000138:Acidosis / Q000139:chemically induced*; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006947:Hyperkalemia / Q000139:chemically induced; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D012651:Self Medication / Q000009:adverse effects; D013455:Sulfur / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000378:metabolism
D013455:Sulfur