Ethylene glycol ingestion resulting in brainstem and midbrain dysfunction.
BACKGROUND
Ethylene glycol toxicity has produced central nervous system abnormalities including coma, cerebral edema, and cranial nerve dysfunction.


METHODS
A 26-year-old male developed widespread brainstem and midbrain dysfunction with corresponding cranial computed tomography findings after ingesting ethylene glycol. The computed tomography scan which was obtained 3 days after ethylene glycol ingestion showed low density areas in the basal ganglia, thalami, midbrain, and upper pons. The neurologic findings in our patient reflected dysfunction of all the areas of hypodensity on the cranial computed tomography scan. A magnetic resonance imaging of the brain obtained 24 days after ingestion revealed bilateral putamen necrosis. The patient's neurologic sequelae resolved over the following 4 months.
Morgan
B W
BW
Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. bmorg02@emory.edu
Ford
M D
MD
Follmer
R
R
D058186:Acute Kidney Injury / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000628:therapy; D000328:Adult; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000628:therapy; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000139:chemically induced; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects*; D002125:Calcium Gluconate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002606:Charcoal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003128:Coma / Q000139:chemically induced; D003389:Cranial Nerve Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D000431:Ethanol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019855:Ethylene Glycol / Q000506:poisoning*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008636:Mesencephalon / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects*; D011699:Putamen / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects; D011736:Pyridoxine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D017693:Sodium Bicarbonate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013831:Thiamine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D002606:Charcoal; D000431:Ethanol; D017693:Sodium Bicarbonate; D019855:Ethylene Glycol; D011736:Pyridoxine; D002125:Calcium Gluconate; D013831:Thiamine