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Ethylene glycol poisoning

treatment and it’s mechanism
Maryam rasas
Poisoning :
A poison is any substance that is harmful to the body
Swallowed, inhaled, injected, or absorbed through the skin

Management of poisoning :
Basics of poisoning treatment
Airway: should be cleared from any obstruction
Breathing: should be observed
Circulation: monitoring of pulse rate, blood pressure and
urinary output
Dextrose 02
Management of poisoning :
History: describe the environment in which the toxic emergency
occurred

Physical Examination :
Vital signs (blood pressure, pulse, respiration and temperature)
Skin (flushed, hot, and dry)Abdomen (Hyperactive bowel sounds,
abdominal cramping, and diarrhea)

•Lab findings :
Arterial Blood Gases
Renal Function Tests
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Ethylene glycol
One of toxic alcohols
Used as heat exchangers and in anti-freeze formulations
Its ingestion can be fatal
Metabolized to glycolic acid, oxalate and lactic acid

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 Ethylene glycol

1-The central nervous system

Affected early

Cause
Intoxication
Drowsiness or coma.
 Ethylene glycol

2- Metabolic processes
The toxic mechanism
of EG poisoning

The metabolic effects occur 12 to 36 hours post ingestion

Causing metabolic acidosis due to accumulated glycolic acid.
Increase in blood concentration of lactic acid can lead to
lactic acidosis
Formation of acid metabolites also causes inhibition of other pathways
(oxidative phosphorylation)
 Ethylene glycol

2- Metabolic processes
The toxic mechanism
of EG poisoning

The metabolic effects occur 12 to 36 hours post ingestion

Causing metabolic acidosis due to accumulated glycolic acid.
Increase in blood concentration of lactic acid can lead to
lactic acidosis
Formation of acid metabolites also causes inhibition of other pathways
(oxidative phosphorylation)
 Ethylene glycol

3-Kidney

Occurs 24 to 72 hours post ingestion

Caused by a direct cytotoxic effect of glycolic acid then The glycolic acid is then
metabolized to glyoxylic acid and finally to oxalic acid.

Oxalic acid binds with calcium to form calcium oxalate

Damage to many areas of the body including the brain, heart, kidneys, and lungs
Clinical features of EG poisoning
Metabolic acidosis
Kidney failure
Brain damage (coma)

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Treatment of EG poisoning
Intravenous ethanol
Hemodialysis
Medication such as fomepizole

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Resources:
•Pharmacology resource slides
•https://www.webmd.com/
•https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/