Methyl alcohol poisoning: an autopsy study of 28 cases.
J Postgrad Med
;
1991 Jan; 37(1): 9-13
Article
in English
| IMSEAR
| ID: sea-115757
ABSTRACT
Twenty eight fatal cases out of the 97 cases of methyl alcohol (MA) poisoning admitted to K. E. M. Hospital in August 1988 during a single outbreak were studied. The latent period between consumption of the drink and development of symptoms was variable (range 7 1/2 hours to 60 hours). CNS symptoms were predominant (75% of cases) and shock either at admission or as a late event was seen in 89% of the cases. Blurring of vision was seen in 42.8% and blindness in 10.7% of cases. Minimum fatal period was 7 1/2 hours and maximum was 12 days. Methanol levels in blood and viscera were variable (average 155.8 mg%, max. 420.4 mg%). In 4 cases, significant amount of MA was detected in stomach contents 5-12 days after consumption of MA, raising the question of resecretion of MA in stomach. Shrinkage and degeneration of neurons in the parietal cortex was seen in 85.7% of cases. Putamental degeneration and necrosis was seen in 7.14%. Haemorrhage (3.5%) and sponginess (7.14%) was observed in the optic chiasma. Severe renal tubular degeneration and patchy necrosis was seen in all cases. Fatty changes (67.8%) and microvesicular fat (42.5%) were seen in the hepatocytes.
Full text:
Available
Index:
IMSEAR (South-East Asia)
Main subject:
Poisoning
/
Autopsy
/
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Disease Outbreaks
/
Adult
/
Methanol
/
India
Country/Region as subject:
Asia
Language:
English
Journal:
J Postgrad Med
Year:
1991
Type:
Article
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