Ethylene glycol intoxication

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Poisons

Intoxication - ethylene glycol; Ethylene glycol poisoning

The first symptom of ethylene glycol ingestion is similar to the feeling caused by drinking alcohol (ethanol). Within a few hours, more toxic effects become apparent. Symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, convulsions, stupor, or even coma.

An overdose of ethylene glycol can damage the brain, lungs, liver, kidneys, and lungs. The poisoning causes disturbances in the body's chemistry, including metabolic acidosis. The disturbances may be severe enough to cause profound shock, organ failure, and death.

As little as 120 ml (approximately 4 fluid ounces) of ethylene glycol may be enough to kill an average-sized man.

Ethylene glycol toxicity should be suspected in anyone who is severely ill after drinking an unknown substance, especially if they initially appear drunk and do not have a smell of alcohol on their breath.

Diagnosis of ethylene glycol toxicity is usually made through a combination of blood, urine, and other tests such as:

• Arterial blood gas analysis
• CHEM-7
• Osmolality
• Ethylene glycol test
• Urinalysis (shows abnormal crystals)
• Ketones - serum
• CBC
• Chest X-ray (shows fluids in the lungs)
• CT scan (shows brain swelling)
• EKG
• Toxicology screen

Tests will show elevated levels of ethylene glycol, severe metabolic acidosis, blood chemical disturbances, and possible signs of kidney failure and muscle or liver damage.

Review Date: 08/08/2005
Reviewed By: William D. Whetstone M.D., Associate Clinical Professor, Division of Emergency Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.