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Updated: Aug 20, 2026

Measurement and Analysis of Extracellular Acid Production to Determine Glycolytic Rate
Published on: December 12, 2015
[Diagnosis in metabolic acidosis of unknown origin]
Knut Erik Hovda1, Odd Helge Hunderi, Steinar Øvrebø
1Akuttmedisinsk avdeling, Medisinsk divisjon, Ullevål universitetssykehus, 0407 Oslo. knov@uus.no
Background:
Obtaining a precise diagnosis in patients presenting with metabolic acidosis of unknown origin is difficult. Poisoning with methanol or ethylene glycol should be suspected in cases with a combined increase of osmolal and anion gaps.
Materials And Methods:
Retrospectively we have compared the methanol and ethylene glycol values in poisoned patients with their osmolal gaps. The anion gaps are compared to the toxic anions measured.
Results:
There were good correlations between serum alcohols and osmolal gaps and between toxic metabolites and anion gaps.
Interpretation:
The osmolal and the anion gaps are both helpful tools in the diagnosis of patients with metabolic acidosis of unknown origin, especially for identifying patients poisoned with methanol or ethylene glycol.
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