title: First-order alcohol elimination in severe alcohol intoxication in an adolescent: a case report.
abstract: We report a case of severe ethanol intoxications in a 14-year-old boy whose starting blood alcohol concentration was 490 mg/dL. The intoxication led to coma with hypoventilation, hypoxemia, hypothermia, and a life-threatening situation. Elimination of ethanol followed nonlinear first-order concentration-dependent pharmacokinetics. Fluid balance was disturbed because of marked diuresis, and respirator treatment was needed. The treatment of fluid balance and the risk of hypoxemia in severe alcohol poisoning are emphasized.
authors.affiliation: Division of Insurance, State Treasury, P.O. Box 10, FI-00054 Helsinki, Finland. Electronic address: anne.lamminpaa@fimnet.fi.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lamminpää
authors.affiliation: Poison Information Centre, University Hospital of Helsinki, Haartmanninkatu 4, 00290 Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Kalle
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hoppu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D020751:Alcohol-Induced Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D000434:Alcoholic Beverages / Q000009:adverse effects; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000628:therapy*; D003128:Coma / Q000209:etiology; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014883:Water-Electrolyte Imbalance / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol