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Serum Calcium Concentration in Ethylene Glycol Poisoning

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Abstract

Introduction

The diagnosis of ethylene glycol intoxication can be challenging. Definitive testing for ethylene glycol is not readily available and clinical decisions are often based on clinical suspicion and the results of more readily available tests. One of these findings is hypocalcemia, presumable through complexation with the ethylene glycol metabolite oxalate.

Methods

We performed a retrospective review of all patients admitted to a tertiary care hospital between 2005 and 2013 with laboratory confirmed ethylene glycol intoxication. Serum calcium on presentation was compared to blood gas pH on presentation as well as presentation serum bicarbonate.

Results

We did not find any relationship between calcium and serum pH either by linear regression or when dichotomized by pH ≥ or <7.3. We did observe an inverse relationship between serum calcium and bicarbonate.

Conclusions

Hypocalcemia is not commonly observed following ethylene glycol poisoning, even in acidotic patients.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Emergency Medicine, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA

    Michael Hodgman, Jeanna M. Marraffa, Susan Wojcik & William Grant

  2. Upstate New York Poison Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Upstate Medical University, 750 E. Adams St., Syracuse, NY, 13501, USA

    Michael Hodgman & Jeanna M. Marraffa

Authors
  1. Michael Hodgman
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  2. Jeanna M. Marraffa
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  3. Susan Wojcik
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  4. William Grant
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michael Hodgman.

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Sources of Funding

No outside funding was used in support of this study.

Conflict of Interest

The authors have no conflicts to declare.

Additional information

This study was presented as a poster: North American Academy of Clinical Toxicology (NACCT), San Francisco, CA, October 2015.

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Hodgman, M., Marraffa, J.M., Wojcik, S. et al. Serum Calcium Concentration in Ethylene Glycol Poisoning. J. Med. Toxicol. 13, 153–157 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13181-017-0598-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13181-017-0598-4

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