Citation

Davis DP, Bramwell KJ, Hamilton RS, Williams SR. J. Emerg. Med. 1997; 15(5): 653-667.

Affiliation

Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California at San Diego Medical Center and Mercy Hospital and Medical Center, 92103-8676, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1997, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

9348055

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.

Language: en