Ethylene Glycol Toxicity in the Setting of Recurrent Ingestion: A Case Report and Literature Review

Abstract

Ethylene glycol (EG) poisoning is a toxicologic emergency requiring high clinical suspicion and early diagnosis to prevent life-threatening complications. Direct EG quantification methods involve cumbersome and time-consuming laboratory tests of limited utility in the emergency setting. Accordingly, the osmolal gap is frequently employed as a surrogate screening method in cases of suspected toxic alcohol poisoning. However, the osmolal gap has several inherent limitations to be considered when used as a diagnostic tool for EG toxicity. Although many of these limitations are widely acknowledged, the clinical finding of a normal serum osmolal gap in the setting of recurrent toxic alcohol exposure is an observation that has remained largely unexplored. The purpose of this case report is to characterize the accelerated osmolal gap to anion gap conversion that may occur in the setting of chronic toxic alcohol abuse.

Correlation of osmolal gap with measured concentrations of acetone, ethylene glycol, isopropanol, methanol, and propylene glycol in patients at an academic medical center

“…Although not as commonly ingested as ethanol, ingestion of other toxic alcohols remains a significant public health problem [[1], [2], [3], [4], [5], [6]]. The toxic alcohols include methanol, isopropanol, and ethylene glycol.…”

Improving the Performance of Si/PEDOT:PSS Hybrid Solar Cells with More Economical and Environmentally Friendly Alcohol Ether Solvents

“…Thomas and Leung reported that the hybrid solar cell made on a planar Si substrate using the mixed cosolvent of EG and methanol (MeOH)-engineered PEDOT:PSS film shows a high efficiency exceeding 14.6% . Due to the high dielectric constant and high boiling point of PEDOT:PSS, the insulating PSS can be removed by weakening the interaction between PEDOT and PSS. − However, ethylene glycol (EG) − and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) , have certain negative effects on human beings and the environment.…”