Ethylene Glycol Intoxication
Alternate Names : Ethylene Glycol Poisoning, Intoxication - Ethylene Glycol
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Diagnosis & Tests
Ethylene glycol toxicity should be suspected in anyone who is severely ill after drinking an unknown substance, especially if they initially appear drunk without the characteristic breath odor of drinking alcohol (ethanol).
Diagnosis of ethylene glycol toxicity is usually made through a combination of blood, urine, and other tests which may include:
Blood tests will show elevated levels of ethylene glycol, as well as severe metabolic acidosis and blood chemical disturbances. Blood tests may also show signs of kidney failure and muscle or liver damage.
Urine tests may show abnormal crystals. Other tests can include a chest X-ray to examine for pulmonary edema (water on the lungs), or a CAT scan of the head to look for cerebral edema (swelling of the brain). An electrocardiogram (ECG) may show changes associated with metabolic abnormalities.
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