title: [Ethanol-independent methanol elimination in chronic alcoholics].
abstract: 72% of a collective of chronic alcoholics (DSM-III-R, ICD 9), who were admitted under the influence of alcohol in order to undergo alcohol withdrawal, showed a serum methanol concentration (SMC) above 10 mg/l. This level is usually considered to be the one for the detection of regular alcohol consumption. The SMC values were considerably higher in cases where alcoholic beverages with a higher methanol content were consumed rather than the ones lower in methanol. In the majority of patients a decrease of the methanol concentration could only be detected once an individually varying limit concentration of ethanol (0-0.62 g/kg) was reached. There were, however, a few exceptions where the elimination of methanol independent from the ethanol concentration could be seen. Contrasting the general collective, these 'ethanol independent' methanol eliminators showed a much higher serum level of ethanol and methanol at the time of admission. As a sign of addiction, all patients showed increased beta 60 values for ethanol and preferred high proof beverages, which at the same time have high methanol contents.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Rechtsmedizin, Heinrich-Heine Universität Düsseldorf.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Musshoff
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Daldrup
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bonte
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Leitner
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nimmerichter
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Walter
authors.forename: O M
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Lesch
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000434:Alcoholic Beverages / Q000032:analysis*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation; D001317:Austria; D000431:Ethanol / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008657:Metabolic Clearance Rate / Q000502:physiology; D000432:Methanol / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol; D000432:Methanol
vernacular_title: Ethanolunabhängige Methanolelimination bei chronischen Alkoholikern.