Characteristics of Laboratory Confirmed Ethylene Glycol and Methanol Exposures Reported to a Regional Poison Control...

Ethylene glycol (EG) and methanol (MET) exposures are rare but can cause significant morbidity and mortality. Though frequently treated similarly, EG and MET exposures have characteristics that are not well differentiated in the literature. We sought to describe the clinical characteristics of EG and MET exposures, confirmed with quantitative serum levels.

An IRB-approved retrospective review of the University of Kansas Health System Poison Control Center database from July 2005 to July 2015 identified all EG/MET exposures evaluated at a health care facility. Initial measurements were EG/MET levels, serum pH, serum creatinine, anion gap, serum ethanol level, max anion gap, max osmolar gap, therapy performed (hemodialysis, fomepizole, ethanol) and death.

The search identified 75 cases, with 59 cases having only detectable EG levels and 15 cases having only detectable MET levels. The average EG level was 126 mg/dL (range 5 - 834). The average detectable methanol level was 78 mg/dL (range 5 - 396). The average maximum anion gap of the EG positive group was 20 mEq/L (range 8 - 35). The average maximum anion gap of the MET positive group was 14 mEq/L (range 6 - 34). One death was reported in the EG positive group, with an initial level of 266 mg/dL.

In this study of EG/MET exposures, EG exposures were more common than MET exposures, but they had similar demographics, laboratory findings, and interventions. Continued studies are warranted to characterize these uncommon exposures further.