Fluctuations in serum ethanol concentration in the treatment of acute methanol poisoning: a prospective study of 21 patients
2015
Abstract
Objective. During the 2012 outbreak of mass methanol poisonings in the Czech Republic, ethanol, in the main, was used as an antidote.
The complex pharmacokinetics of ethanol made it difficult to maintain the requisite 1000-1500 mg/L serum ethanol levels (S-EtOH). The aim of this study was to measure the fluctuations in S-EtOH during the treatment.
Methods. A prospective case series in 21 patients, median age 52 (27-79 years), 13 males and 8 females.
Serum ethanol, methanol and formate were measured every 2-6 hours during the treatment. Follow-up clinical examination was carried out in 15/18 survivors.