Citation

Boggild MD, Peck RW, Tomson CR. Postgrad. Med. J. 1990; 66(771): 40-41.

Affiliation

Department of Medicine, Leicester Royal Infirmary, UK.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1990, BMJ Publishing Group)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

2349164

PMCID

PMC2429384

Abstract

A fatal case of acetonitrile ingestion is reported. The patient presented having apparently taken an overdose but was well until around 24 hours after the supposed ingestion, when cardiovascular collapse and profound metabolic acidosis developed. Later investigation revealed that the patient had taken acetone and acetonitrile. Acetone is known to slow the metabolism of acetonitrile to cyanide, thereby delaying the appearance of toxicity.

Language: en