A case of Oral Ethanol Treatment for Acute Ethylene Glycol Intoxication

경구 Ethanol을 이용한 급성 Ethylene Glycol 중독 치료 증례

Ethylene glycol is used primarily as automobile antifreeze, and other industrial solutions as well. Ingestion can cause intoxication, showing metabolic acidosis, central nervous system depression, cardiovascular collapse, and renal failure, which is attributable to the biotransformation and accumulation of the toxic metabolites. A 41-year-old man was brought to the emergency room two hours after ingesting about 400 ml of antifreeze in a suicide attempt. His initial state was unremarkable except stuporous mental state, but he soon developed metabolic acidosis(pH 7.17), increased osmolar and anion gaps, and acute renal failure. Oral ethanol was administered via nasogastric tube and hemodialysis was performed twice together with intensive supportive care. He had an uneventful recovery and was discharged from the hospital 9 days after the ingestion. In order to prevent mortality and morbidity, early recognition and management of ethylene glycol toxicity is important.