Related Experiment Videos
[Clinical, biological and developmental aspects of alcoholic ketoacidosis]
F Gaches1, E Freneau, S Le Gall
1Service de Médecine B, Centre Hospitalier Général de Saint-Pierre de La Réunion.
Objectives:
To review cases of alcoholic ketoacidosis in order to better ascertain therapeutic management.
Methods:
The medical files of 32 alcoholic patients with ketoacidosis hospitalized in the Saint-Pierre general hospital of the Reunion island from January 1, 1991 through 31 August 1994 were analyzed.
Results:
There were 18 women and 14 men, mean age 47 years. The first clinical signs were predominated by digestive (n = 22) or neurological disorders (n = 10). Acidosis was severe (mean pH = 7.12) and always associated with a wide anion gap (mean anion gap = 35). There were 3 types of glycemic status: hypoglycemia 10 cases, normal or subnormal glycemia in 19 cases (mean glycemia = 9.3 mmol/l) and hyperglycemia above 20 mmol/l in 3 cases. Hypophosphatemia, elevated serum lactate levels and cytolytic hepatitis were the main abnormalities associated.
Conclusion:
Short-term outcome was favorable in all cases after rehydration. The use of insulin may be dangerous and needs to be avoided.