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Bipallidal haemorrhage after ethylene glycol intoxication
D Caparros-Lefebvre1, J Policard, C Sengler
1Service de Neurologie, CHU Pointe à Pitre, Guadeloupe 623, Av de la République, 59800 Lille, France. dcaparros@nordnet.fr
Neuroradiology
|February 17, 2005
Summary
Ethylene glycol (EG) intoxication can cause bipallidal lesions, a rare finding. This case highlights bilateral pallidal hemorrhage as a potential indicator for toxicological screening in patients with unexplained loss of consciousness.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Toxicology
- Radiology
Background:
- Bipallidal lesions are uncommon radiological findings associated with metabolic disorders or poisoning.
- Ethylene glycol (EG) intoxication is a known cause of metabolic derangement but has not been previously linked to bipallidal lesions.
Observation:
- A 50-year-old male presented with unexplained loss of consciousness.
- Blood tests revealed an osmolar gap, and drug screening confirmed ethylene glycol (EG) presence.
- Brain CT imaging demonstrated bilateral pallidal hemorrhage.
Findings:
- This case reports the first instance of ethylene glycol (EG) intoxication causing bilateral pallidal hemorrhage.
- The pallidal hematoma is hypothesized to result from oxalate crystal deposition, a metabolite of EG.
Implications:
- Bilateral pallidal hemorrhage should prompt consideration of ethylene glycol (EG) intoxication in the differential diagnosis.
- Early toxicological screening for EG is crucial in patients presenting with these specific radiological findings and clinical symptoms.
- This finding expands the spectrum of neurological manifestations associated with ethylene glycol poisoning.