Ethylene glycol poisoning: case report of a record-high level and a review

J Emerg Med. 1997 Sep-Oct;15(5):653-67. doi: 10.1016/s0736-4679(97)00145-5.

Abstract

Ethylene glycol is commonly found in automobile antifreeze and a variety of other commercial products. Ingestion of ethylene glycol, either accidentally or in a suicide attempt, is characterized by severe acidosis, calcium oxalate crystal formation and deposition, and a wide variety of end organ effects that may be fatal. We present a case of a patient who ingested a massive amount of ethylene glycol in a suicide attempt and yet survived with minimal sequelae. A comprehensive review of the literature on the pathology and pathophysiology of ethylene glycol toxicity on each organ system is provided, along with information on diagnosis and current treatment recommendations.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Decontamination
  • Ethylene Glycol / chemistry
  • Ethylene Glycol / pharmacology
  • Ethylene Glycol / poisoning*
  • Fomepizole
  • Humans
  • Inactivation, Metabolic
  • Male
  • Poisoning / diagnosis
  • Poisoning / physiopathology
  • Poisoning / therapy
  • Pyrazoles / therapeutic use
  • Suicide, Attempted*

Substances

  • Pyrazoles
  • Fomepizole
  • Ethylene Glycol