Urinary calcium oxalate monohydrate crystals in ethylene glycol poisoning.
Four patients admitted for ethylene glycol intoxication had massive crystalluria, predominantly of needle-shaped calcium oxalate monohydrate--sometimes referred to as the 'hemp seed' habit. A few 'envelope' type crystals of calcium oxalate dihydrate were observed in one urine sample. Although not a pathognomonic sign, the presence of a large number of calcium oxalate monohydrate crystals (Whewellite) supports the diagnosis of ethylene glycol poisoning in patients having a metabolic acidosis of unknown aetiology. We conclude that the monohydrate form rather than the dihydrate form is the predominant type of calcium oxalate crystal formed in ethylene glycol poisoning.
D000328:Adult; D002129:Calcium Oxalate / Q000652:urine*; D005026:Ethylene Glycols / Q000506:poisoning*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
D005026:Ethylene Glycols; D002129:Calcium Oxalate