[Chance discovery of methanol poisoning during a state of inebriation]

We report a case of wood alcohol (methylated spirits) poisoning in a 40-year-old chronic alcoholic. The initial diagnosis of state of drunkenness was supported by the increased plasma level of ethanol (4.66 g.L-1) obtained with enzymatic method. The confirmation, using gas chromatography (GC), showed an unexpected peak with a retention time at 1.19 min, characteristic of methanol (0.41 g.L-1). The GC analysis of the absorbed beverage revealed a 5% methanol content. The osmolal gap was 115 mOsm.kg-1, with 13 mOsm.kg-1 due to methanol and 90 mOsm.kg-1 to ethanol. Seven hours after the ingestion, the anion gap was at 13 mmol-1. This result reflected the inhibition of methanol oxidation by alcohol-dehydrogenase, when the plasma ethanol concentration was above 1 g.L-1. This concentration was maintained by continuous intravenous administration of (Curéthyl-A) a 95% ethanol containing solution, until methanol concentration decreased below 0.2 g.L-1. The outcome was favourable without neurological and ophthalmological sequelae.