Ethylene glycol toxicity

Background

• Component of antifreeze, automobile coolants, de-icing agents, industrial solvents and hydraulic brake fluid.
  • Fluoresces yellow/green under Wood's lamp (neither Sn nor Sp)
• Sweet taste
• Lethal dose = 1g/kg
  • Volume depends on percentage of ethylene glycol in solution, typically 0.6 g/mL
  • 60 kg patient lethal dose ~ 100 mL
• Parent compound causes inebriation; metabolite (glycolic acid) causes toxicity

Clinical Features

Stage 1 - CNS

• 30min-12hr after ingestion
• Appears intoxicated (slurred speech, ataxia, stupor, seizure, coma)

Stage 2 - Cardiopulmonary

• 12-24hr after ingestion
• Most deaths occur during this stage
  • Hypertension, tachycardia, CHF
  • ARDS, pulmonary infiltrates
  • Hypocalcemia (chelation by oxalate)
  • Myositis & CK elevation

Stage 3 - Renal

• 24-72hr after ingestion
  • Flank pain, CVA tenderness
  • Hematuria, proteinuria, calcium oxalate crystals (50%)

Differential Diagnosis

Sedative/hypnotic toxicity

• Toxic alcohols
  • Ethanol
  • Ethylene glycol
  • Methanol
  • Isopropyl alcohol
• Benzodiazepines
  • Flunitrazepam (Rohypnol)
• Gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB)
• Barbiturates
• Opioids
  • Lomotil toxicity
• Chloral hydrate
• Absinthe

Evaluation

Chemistry

May see:

• Anion gap acidosis
  • Will not be present immediately after exposure (only metabolite causes acidosis)
• Renal failure
• Glucose - may be low in setting of decreased caloric intake

Serum osmolality

Osm gap:

• Calculated serum osm - measured serum osm
• Calculated serum osm = 2Na + BUN/2.8 + glucose/18 + ethanol/4.2)
• Normal < 10
• >50 highly suggestive of toxic alcohol poisoning)

Note: Cannot rule out toxic ingestion with a "normal" osmol gap

• Only parent alcohol is osmotically active
• Delayed presentation may mean that much of it is already metabolized

Alcohol levels

May be useful however even if elevated, patients can still have ingested a toxic alcohol

Urinalysis

• Hematuria, proteinuria, pyuria
• Calcium oxalate crystals (late finding; only seen in 50%)
• Urinary fluorescence (may be seen 6 hours after ingestion), lacks sensitivity and specificity

Total CK

Useful to assess for signs of rhabdomyolysis especially if the patient was found laying down

Venous blood gas

Needed to assess degree of acidosis. An ABG is not necessary since pH can be approximated with a clinical degree via a VBG

ECG

• QT prolongation ~ hypocalcemia

Acetaminophen or Aspirin levels

• Useful to discern the cause of the anion gap as well as assess for other toxic ingestion

Management

ADH enzyme blockade

Fomepizole:

• Indications:
  • Ethylene glycol level >20mg/dL
  • Suspected significant ethylene glycol ingestion with ETOH level <100mg/dL
  • Coma or altered mental status in patient with unclear history and osm gap >10
  • Coma or altered mental status in patient with unclear history and unexplained met acidosis and ETOH level <100
• Dosing
  • 15mg/kg IV over 30min; follow by 10mg/kg q12hr until level <20 or acidosis resolves

Ethanol:

• Ethanol drips are rarely used
• BAL of 100-150 completely saturates alcohol dehydrogenase
• Dosing:
  • IV: load 800mg/kg; then give 100mg/kg/hr
  • Oral: 3-4 1-oz "shots" of 80-proof liquor); then give 1-2 "shots" per hour

Correction of metabolic acidosis

• Acidemia leads to protonation of oxalate which increases penetration to end organ tissues and causes more damage
• Bicarbonate infusion is an option however the patient will need to compensate with an increased respiratory rate otherwise a concomitant respiratory acidosis will ensure.
• Bicarbonate 1-2mEq/kg IV bolus to attain pH = 7.45-7.50
  • Follow by infusion of 150mEq/L in D5 @ 1.5-2 times maintenance fluid rate
• Monitor for worsening hypocalcemia

Dialysis

• Indications:
  • Refractory metabolic acidosis (pH <7.25) with AG >30
  • Renal insufficiency
  • Deteriorating vital signs despite aggressive supportive care
  • Electrolyte abnormalities refractory to conventional therapy
  • Ethylene glycol level >50mg/dL (controversial)
  • Glycolic acid level > 8 mmol/L (glycolic acid is metabolite that causes anion gap acidosis)

Decrease oxalate production

• Thiamine 100mg IV q6hr x2d
• Pyridoxine 50mg q6hr x2d
• Magnesium 2gm IV x1

See Also

• Sedative/hypnotic toxicity
• Toxic alcohols

References

Authors

Ross Donaldson