[Acetone metabolism: biochemistry, toxicology and clinical implications]

In the article, the routes of acetone metabolism are summarized and the conditions in which acetonemia occurs, are taken into account. Acetonemiae are classified as to be of exogenous and endogenous origin, and the biochemical mechanisms of the development of different acetonemiae are analyzed. Referring to the medical significance of acetone and isopropanol it is suggested that the previous view on those should be revised. As a summary, a hypothesis is raised according to which the physiological role of acetone production would be, on the one hand, to regulate the pH buffering capacity of body fluids and, on the other hand, in ketotic states emerging in diseases, to provide additional fuel for the particularly sensitive tissues (e.g. brain).