Clinical Review of Toxic Alcohol Poisoning Cases in Korea
Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
;
: 15-21, 2012.
Article
in Korean
| WPRIM
| ID: wpr-123770
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE:
Toxic alcohols are responsible for accidental and suicide motivated poisonings, resulting in death or permanent sequelae for the afflicted patients. Major therapeutic modalities in these cases include treatment with alcohol dehydrogenase inhibitors and extracorporeal elimination. There have been a number of case reports of toxic alcohol intoxication in Korea. The purpose of this study was to review the clinical characteristics of patients suffering toxic alcohol intoxication.METHODS:
We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients who presented with toxic alcohol intoxication at 8 emergency departments (ED) from Jun 2005 to Nov 2011. Patients who ingested methanol, isopropyl alcohol, ethylene glycol, and other alcohols except ethanol, were included in this study. The clinical characteristics of these patients were analyzed to include anion and osmolar gap, and estimated concentration of alcohol in the body.RESULTS:
During the study period, 21 patients were identified who had ingested toxic alcohol (methanol; 12 patients, ethylene glycol; 9 patients). At ED arrival, the mean anion gap was 18.7+/-6.9 and the osmolar gap was elevated in 13 patients. Oral and IV ethanol were administrated to 11 patients in order to inhibit alcohol dehydrogenase. Extracorporeal elimination procedures such as hemodialysis were performed in 9 patients. There were no fatalities, but the one patient suffered permanent blindness.CONCLUSION:
This study found that ethylene glycol and methanol were the substances ingested which produced toxic alcohol intoxication. The patients presented with high anion gap metabolic acidosis and were typically treated with oral ethanol and hemodialysis.
Full text:
Available
Index:
WPRIM (Western Pacific)
Main subject:
Stress, Psychological
/
Suicide
/
Acid-Base Equilibrium
/
Acidosis
/
Alcohol Dehydrogenase
/
Medical Records
/
Retrospective Studies
/
Renal Dialysis
/
Ethylene Glycol
/
2-Propanol
Type of study:
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Limits:
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
Asia
Language:
Korean
Journal:
Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
Year:
2012
Type:
Article
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