[The use of hypertonic glucose solution in acute alcoholic intoxication: a double-blind study]

The authors have performed a double-blind study, evaluating blood levels of glucose and ethanol and the neurologic status of 83 alcoholized patients who were admitted to an emergency hospital in Porto Alegre, Brazil. The patients were evaluated and admittance to the service and 40 minutes later. The mean glycemia was 90 +/- 21mg/dl, with most patients with the normal range. One patient, whose blood glucose level was 63mg/dl, presented hypoglycemic symptoms. Blood glucose and ethanol concentrations were not found to have linear correlation. Immediately after the first evaluation, 20ml of 50% glucose was administrated to 41 patients. The others received the same volume of 0.9% NaCl solution as placebo. No statistic difference was found between the two groups with regard to the lowering of ethanol levels after the 40min interval. The neurologic status was evaluated through a score test adapted by the authors. Both groups presented similar score improvement. The results reinforce the idea that glucose should be administered to alcoholized patients only when hypoglycemia signs are present.