Reversible blindness associated with alcoholic ketoacidosis.
OBJECTIVE
To report a case of reversible blindness associated with severe alcoholic ketoacidosis.


METHODS
Observational case report.


METHODS
A 44-year-old male presented with gradual bilateral blindness that developed within a 24-hour period. He suffered from ethanol-induced severe ketoacidosis and shock and was resuscitated with epinephrine and sodium bicarbonate.


RESULTS
The treatment of acidosis led to a rapid resolution of the patient's blindness.


CONCLUSIONS
It is important to understand the role of severe acidosis as the sole causative factor of reversible bilateral blindness.
Yanagawa
Youichi
Y
Department of Traumatology and Critical Care Medicine, National Defense Medical College, Saitama, Japan. yanagawa@me.ndmc.ac.jp
Kiyozumi
Teturou
T
Hatanaka
Kousuke
K
Itoh
Toshitaka
T
Sakamoto
Toshihisa
T
Okada
Yoshiaki
Y
D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D001766:Blindness / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005947:Glucose / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007552:Isotonic Solutions / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007662:Ketosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D000077331:Ringer's Solution; D012769:Shock / Q000188:drug therapy; D017693:Sodium Bicarbonate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014803:Vitamin B Complex / Q000008:administration & dosage
D007552:Isotonic Solutions; D014803:Vitamin B Complex; D000077331:Ringer's Solution; D017693:Sodium Bicarbonate; D005947:Glucose; D004837:Epinephrine