Delayed neurologic sequelae resulting from epidemic diethylene glycol poisoning.
BACKGROUND
Diethylene glycol (DEG) is a well-known metabolic and renal toxin usually ingested accidentally as an ethanol substitute or as a contaminant in various medicinals. To date, most poisonings have occurred in third-world countries where early death from renal failure is very common. We report a series of seven patients presenting with epidemic DEG poisoning from a correctional facility with varying degrees of metabolic acidemia and acute renal impairment responding to emergent hemodialysis (HD). Significantly, three patients developed delayed neurologic toxicity which has not been well characterized in the past.


METHODS
Seven male patients (age range 19-55) presented over a 36 h period following ingestion of varying quantities of DEG. Initially three patients, ingesting the largest quantities of DEG, presented more than 24 h postingestion with severe metabolic acidemia (pH range 6.8-7.1) and anuric acute renal failure requiring HD. All three remained dialysis-dependent and developed significant cranial neuropathies with bulbar palsy in the second week postingestion. One patient died with cerebral oedema and a progressive encephalopathy. Two further patients presented within 24 h of ingestion with normal renal function and a moderate metabolic acidemia (pH range 7.2-7.28) requiring HD. They remained well. Finally, two further patients presented with a history of trivial DEG ingestion and did not require any therapy. Neurologic signs in the two surviving initial presenters improved over 4-6 months although they remained dialysis-dependent.


CONCLUSIONS
Unrecognized DEG poisoning may present with metabolic acidemia and anuric acute renal failure. Established renal impairment may predict subsequent delayed neurologic toxicity.
Alfred
Sam
S
Department of Emergency Medicine, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, Australia. samalfred@bigpond.com
Coleman
Patrick
P
Harris
David
D
Wigmore
Tim
T
Stachowski
Edward
E
Graudins
Andis
A
D000138:Acidosis / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology; D058186:Acute Kidney Injury / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D010244:Bulbar Palsy, Progressive / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005026:Ethylene Glycols / Q000506:poisoning*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011041:Poisoning / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D011329:Prisoners; D006435:Renal Dialysis
D005026:Ethylene Glycols; C013484:diethylene glycol