Acute renal failure and delayed neuropathy due to anti-freeze ingestion / 대한내과학회지

ABSTRACT

Antifreeze contains ethylene glycol up to ninty five percent. Ethylene glycol is colorless, odorless, sweet-tasting and water-soluble compound and has been widely used as a chemical solvent. Ethylene glycol has been reported as a common cause of incidental poisoning all over the world because of its easy access. However, in Korea, it is not easy to find statistical references on incidences of ethylene glycol intoxication, except two reported cases. Ethylene glycol itself is not toxic substance. But, many other daughter metabolites are very toxic and lethal. Acid metabolites among them can cause metabolic acidosis. Oxalate, end-product of ethylene glycol, is quickly transformed to calcium oxalate crystals, which precipitate in body tissues such as brain, kidney, heart, liver, and pancreas. We report a case of acute renal failure and neuropathy due to ethylene glycol intoxication along with a review of toxic effects of ethylene glycol.