Isopropyl alcohol toxicity: Difference between revisions

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*Respiratory depression
*Respiratory depression
**Fruity breath from acetone
**Fruity breath from acetone
*[[Hypotension]]
*[[Hypotension]], [[hypothermia]] from peripheral vasodilation
*[[Hypoglycemia]] (in malnourished patients)
*[[Hypoglycemia]] (in malnourished patients)



Revision as of 09:58, 8 May 2017

Background

  • Main component of rubbing alcohol
  • Hallmark is osmolar gap without acidosis
    • Metabolized to acetone, not to an acid
  • Takes 30-60 min for acetone to appear in blood; 3 hr to appear in urine
  • Lethal Dose: 4-8 g/kg or 250 mL in average adult (calculated using volume of pure isopropyl alcohol)
    • Typical store bought rubbing alcohol is 70% isopropyl alcohol by volume, so lethal dose is ~ 350 mL

Clinical Features

Differential Diagnosis

Sedative/hypnotic toxicity

Evaluation

Work-Up

  • Fingerstick glucose
  • Complete metabolic panel
  • Serum ketones
  • Serum Osmolality
  • Uinarlysis
  • VBG
  • Aspirin/Tylenol levels
  • ECG
  • Serum isopropyl alcohol level (if available)
  • Total CK

Evaluation

  • Osmolal gap > 10; see Osmolal or Osmolar Gap
  • Absence of anion gap
  • Absence of metabolic acidosis
  • Absence of serum beta hydroxybutyrate
  • Presence of serum and urine ketones
    • Consider other diagnosis if absent 2hr after ingestion
  • Creatinine may be falsely elevated due to acetone interference with laboratory measurement of Cr

Toxic Alcohols Anion/Osmolar Gaps

Osmolar gap Anion gap Management
Ethanol + + if ketoacidosis Mainly supportive
Ethylene glycol + + Fomepizole, Thiamine, Pyridoxine, +/- Dialysis
Methanol + + Fomepizole or ethanol, Folinic acid, +/- Dialysis
Isopropyl alcohol + - Mainly supportive

Management

  • Treatment is supportive.
  • No role for fomepizole or ethanol

Disposition

  • Generally may be discharged once clinically sober.

See Also

References