Methanol ingestion: prevention of toxic sequelae after massive ingestion Journal Article uri icon
Overview
abstract
  • Methanol ingestion, a rare but potentially fatal poisoning, is often difficult to diagnose in the emergency department (ED) and historically has been difficult to treat. In this article, we report a methanol ingestion with a blood concentration of 692 mg/dL, which was treated with 4-methylpyrazole (Fomepizole) and dialysis, without sequelae. To our knowledge, such a massive ingestion has never been treated with this modality without development of long-term disability. Another unusual feature of this case is the significantly elevated serum osmolal gap at presentation without elevation in anion gap, demonstrating the effects of co-ingestion of ethanol. Additionally, there was a marked disparity between the patient's breath alcohol analyzer level and the blood ethanol concentration, illustrating the inability of the breath alcohol analyzer to differentiate between volatile alcohols. Treatment of the methanol-poisoned patient with Fomepizole is discussed.

  • Link to Article
    publication date
  • 2003
  • published in
    Research
    keywords
  • Alcoholic Intoxication/complications/*diagnosis/metabolism/*therapy
  • Antidotes/therapeutic use
  • Blood Gas Analysis
  • Breath Tests
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Emergency Treatment/*methods
  • Ethanol/*poisoning
  • Fomepizole
  • Metabolic Clearance Rate
  • Methanol/analysis/metabolism/*poisoning
  • Pyrazoles/therapeutic use
  • Recovery of Function
  • Renal Dialysis
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Additional Document Info
    volume
  • 24
  • issue
  • 4