Ethylene glycol poisoning: case report of a record-high level and a review.
Ethylene glycol is commonly found in automobile antifreeze and a variety of other commercial products. Ingestion of ethylene glycol, either accidentally or in a suicide attempt, is characterized by severe acidosis, calcium oxalate crystal formation and deposition, and a wide variety of end organ effects that may be fatal. We present a case of a patient who ingested a massive amount of ethylene glycol in a suicide attempt and yet survived with minimal sequelae. A comprehensive review of the literature on the pathology and pathophysiology of ethylene glycol toxicity on each organ system is provided, along with information on diagnosis and current treatment recommendations.
Davis
D P
DP
Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California at San Diego Medical Center and Mercy Hospital and Medical Center, 92103-8676, USA.
Bramwell
K J
KJ
Hamilton
R S
RS
Williams
S R
SR
D000328:Adult; D003666:Decontamination; D019855:Ethylene Glycol / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000506:poisoning*; D000077604:Fomepizole; D006801:Humans; D008658:Inactivation, Metabolic; D008297:Male; D011041:Poisoning / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013406:Suicide, Attempted
D011720:Pyrazoles; D000077604:Fomepizole; D019855:Ethylene Glycol