Rare Alleles within theCYP2E1(MEOS System) Could be Associated with Better Short-Term Health Outcome after Acute Methanol Poisoning

Activity of Total Alcohol Dehydrogenase, Alcohol Dehydrogenase Isoenzymes and Aldehyde Dehydrogenase in the Serum of Patients with Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Background and objectives: The aim of the current study was to assess the use of determinations of total alcohol dehydrogenase and the activity of its isoenzymes as well as aldehyde dehydrogenase in the serum of patients with alcohol liver disease. Materials and Methods: The testing was performed on the serum of 38 patients with alcoholic fatty liver (26 males and 12 females aged 31–75). The total activity of ADH was determined by the colorimetric method. The activity of ADH I and ADH II, as well as ALDH, was determined by the spectrofluorometric method using fluorogenic specific substrates. The activity of isoenzymes of other classes was determined by spectrophotometric methods using substrates. Results: A statistically significantly higher ADH I activity was noted in the serum of patients with alcoholic fatty liver (4.45 mIU/L) compared to the control group (2.04 mIU/L). A statistically significant increase in the activity was also noted for the class II alcohol dehydrogenase isoenzyme (29.21 mIU/L, control group: 15.56 mIU/L) and the total ADH (1.41 IU/L, control group: 0.63 IU/L). Conclusions: The obtained results imply the diagnostic usefulness of the determination of AHD total, ADH I, and ADH II activity in the serum of patients with alcoholic fatty liver.

MRI-based brain volumetry and retinal optical coherence tomography as the biomarkers of outcome in acute methanol poisoning

BACKGROUND

Basal ganglia lesions are typical findings on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain in survivors of acute methanol poisoning. However, no data are available on the association between the magnitude of damaged brain regions, serum concentrations of markers of acute methanol toxicity, oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and the rate of retinal nerve ganglion cell loss.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the association between MRI-based volumetry of the basal ganglia, retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness and prognostic laboratory markers of outcomes in acute methanol poisoning.

METHODS

MRI-based volumetry of putamen, nucleus caudatus and globus pallidus was performed and compared with laboratory parameters of severity of poisoning and acute serum markers of oxidative damage of lipids (8-isoprostan, MDA, HHE, HNE), nucleic acids (8-OHdG, 8-OHG, 5-OHMU), proteins (o-Thyr, NO-Thyr, Cl-Thyr) and leukotrienes (LTC4, LTD4, LTE4, LTB4), as well as with the results of RNFL measurements by optic coherence tomography (OCT) in 16 patients with acute methanol poisoning (Group I) and in 28 survivors of poisoning two years after discharge with the same markers measured within the follow-up examination (Group II). The control group consisted of 28 healthy subjects without methanol poisoning.

RESULTS

The survivors of acute methanol poisoning had significantly lower volumes of basal ganglia than the controls. The patients with MRI signs of methanol-induced toxic brain damage had significantly lower volumes of basal ganglia than those without these signs. A positive correlation was found between the volume of putamen and arterial blood pH on admission (r = 0.45; p = 0.02 and r = 0.44; p = 0.02 for left and right putamen, correspondingly). A negative correlation was present between the volumes of putamen and acute serum lactate (r = -0.63; p < 0.001 and r = -0.59; p = 0.01), creatinine (r = -0.53; p = 0.01 and r = -0.47; p = 0.01) and glucose (r = -0.55; p < 0.001 and r = -0.50; p = 0.01) concentrations. The volume of basal ganglia positively correlated with acute concentrations of markers of lipoperoxidation (8-isoprostan: r = 0.61; p < 0.05 and r = 0.59; p < 0.05 for left and right putamen, correspondingly) and inflammation (leukotriene LTB4: r = 0.61; p < 0.05 and r = 0.61; p < 0.05 for left and right putamen, correspondingly). The higher the volume of the basal ganglia, the higher the thickness of the RNFL, with the strongest positive association between global RNFL and the volume of putamen bilaterally (all p < 0.01). In the follow-up markers of oxidative stress and inflammation, only o-Thyr concentration negatively correlated with the volume of putamen bilaterally (r = -0.39; p < 0.05 and r = -0.37; p < 0.05 for left and right putamen, correspondingly).

CONCLUSION

In survivors of acute methanol poisoning with signs of toxic brain damage, the magnitude of affected areas correlated with acute parameters of severity of poisoning, markers of oxidative stress and neuroinflammation. There was a positive association between the basal ganglia volume and the thickness of RNFL, making OCT an important screening test and MRI-based volumetry the confirmative diagnostic method for the detection of CNS sequelae of methanol poisoning.

Clinical and genetic determinants of chronic visual pathway changes after methanol - induced optic neuropathy: four-year follow-up study

CONTEXT

Methanol poisoning induces acute optic neuropathy with possible long-term visual damage.

OBJECTIVE

To study the dynamics and key determinants of visual pathway functional changes during 4 years after acute methanol poisoning.

METHODS

A total of 42 patients with confirmed methanol poisoning (mean age 45.7 ± 4.4 years) were examined 4.9 ± 0.6, 25.0 ± 0.6, and 49.9 ± 0.5 months after discharge. The following tests were performed: visual evoked potential (VEP), retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) measurement, brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), complete ocular examination, biochemical tests, and apolipoprotein E (ApoE) genotyping.

RESULTS

Abnormal VEP P1 latency was registered in 18/42 right eyes (OD) and 21/42 left eyes (OS), abnormal N1P1 amplitude in 10/42 OD and OS. Mean P1 latency shortening during the follow-up was 15.0 ± 2.0 ms for 36/42 (86%) OD and 14.9 ± 2.4 ms for 35/42 (83%) OS, with maximum shortening up to 35.0 ms. No significant change of mean N1P1 amplitude was registered during follow-up. A further decrease in N1P1 amplitude ≥1.0 mcV in at least one eye was observed in 17 of 36 patients (47%) with measurable amplitude (mean decrease -1.11 ± 0.83 (OD)/-2.37 ± 0.66 (OS) mcV versus -0.06 ± 0.56 (OD)/-0.83 ± 0.64 (OS) mcV in the study population; both p < .001). ApoE4 allele carriers had lower global and temporal RNFL thickness and longer initial P1 latency compared to the non-carriers (all p < .05). The odds ratio for abnormal visual function was 8.92 (3.00-36.50; 95%CI) for ApoE4 allele carriers (p < .001). The presence of ApoE4 allele was further associated with brain necrotic lesions (r = 0.384; p = .013) and brain hemorrhages (r = 0.395; p = .011).

CONCLUSIONS

Improvement of optic nerve conductivity occurred in more than 80% of patients, but evoked potential amplitude tended to decrease during the 4 years of observation. ApoE4 allele carriers demonstrated lower RNFL thickness, longer P1 latency, and more frequent methanol-induced brain damage compared to non-carriers.

Intermittent versus continuous renal replacement therapy in acute methanol poisoning: comparison of clinical effectiveness in mass poisoning outbreaks

BACKGROUND

Intermittent hemodialysis (IHD) is the modality of choice in the extracorporeal treatment (ECTR) of acute methanol poisoning. However, the comparative clinical effectiveness of intermittent versus continuous modalities (CRRT) is unknown. During an outbreak of mass methanol poisoning, we therefore studied the effect of IHD versus CRRT on mortality and the prevalence of visual/central nervous system (CNS) sequelae in survivors.

METHODS

The study was designed as prospective observational cohort study. Patients hospitalized with a diagnosis of acute methanol poisoning were identified for the study. Exploratory factor analysis and multivariate logistic regression were applied to determine the effect of ECTR modality on the outcome.

RESULTS

Data were obtained from 41 patients treated with IHD and 40 patients with CRRT. The follow-up time in survivors was two years. Both groups of patients were comparable by age, time to presentation, laboratory data, clinical features, and other treatment applied. The CRRT group was more acidemic (arterial blood pH 6.96 ± 0.08 vs. 7.17 ± 0.07; p < 0.001) and more severely poisoned (25/40 vs. 9/41 patients with Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) ≤ 8; p < 0.001). The median intensive care unit length of stay (4 (range 1-16) days vs. 4 (1-22) days; p = 0.703) and the number of patients with complications during the treatment (11/41 vs. 13/40 patients; p = 0.576) did not differ between the groups. The mortality was higher in the CRRT group (15/40 vs. 5/41; p = 0.008). The number of survivors without sequelae of poisoning was higher in the IHD group (23/41 vs. 10/40; p = 0.004). There was a significant association of ECTR modality with both mortality and the number of survivors with visual and CNS sequelae of poisoning, but this association was not present after adjustment for arterial blood pH and GCS on admission (all p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

In spite of the faster correction of the acidosis and the quicker removal of the toxic metabolite in intermittent dialysis, we did not find significant differences in the treatment outcomes between the two groups after adjusting for the degree of acidemia and the severity of poisoning on admission. These findings support the strategy of "use what you have" in situations with large outbreaks and limited dialysis capacity.

Positive serum ethanol concentration on admission to hospital as the factor predictive of treatment outcome in acute methanol poisoning

ABSTRACT

Mass methanol poisonings present a serious problem for health systems worldwide, with poor outcome associated with delayed treatment. Positive pre-hospital serum ethanol concentration may have predictive value as the prognostic factor of the treatment outcome. We studied the effect of positive serum ethanol level on admission to hospital on survival in patients treated during the Czech methanol outbreak during 2012-2014. Cross-sectional cohort study was performed in 100 hospitalized patients with confirmed methanol poisoning. Pre-hospital ethanol was administered in 42 patients (by paramedic/medical staff to 30 patients and self-administered by 12 patients before admission); 58 patients did not receive pre-hospital ethanol. Forty-two patients had detectable serum ethanol concentration on admission to hospital [median 18.3 (IQR 6.6-32.2) mmol dm-3]. Pre-hospital ethanol administration by paramedic/medical staff had a significant effect on survival without visual and CNS sequelae when adjusted for arterial blood pH on admission (OR 8.73; 95 % CI 3.57-21.34; p < 0.001). No patients receiving pre-hospital ethanol died compared with 21 not receiving (p < 0.001). Positive serum ethanol concentration on admission to hospital was a predictor for survival without health sequelae when adjusted for arterial blood pH (OR 8.10; 95 % CI 2.85-23.02; p < 0.001). The probability of visual and CNS sequelae in survivors reduced with increasing serum ethanol concentration on admission.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Successful Use of Hydroxocobalamin and Sodium Thiosulfate in Acute Cyanide Poisoning: A Case Report with Follow-up

Hydroxocobalamin is an effective first-line antidote used mainly in monotherapy of cyanide poisonings, while the opinions are different on the effects of its combination with sodium thiosulfate. A 58-year-old male committed a suicide attempt by ingesting of 1200-1500 mg of potassium cyanide; he was unconscious for 1-1.5 min. after ingestion with the episode of generalized seizures. On admission to the ICU, the patient was acidotic (pH 7.28; HCO3 14.0 mmol/L, base excess -12.7 mmol/L, saturation O2 0.999) with high serum lactate (12.5 mmol/L). Hydroxocobalamin was administered 1.5 hr after ingestion in two subsequent intravenous infusions at a total dose of 7.5 g. The infusion was followed by continuous intravenous administration of 1 mL/hr/kg of 10% sodium thiosulfate at a total dose of 12 g. No complications and adverse reactions were registered. Serum lactate decreased to 0.6 mmol/L the same day, and arterial blood gases became normal (pH 7.49; HCO3 27.2 mmol/L, base excess 2.2 mmol/L, saturation O2 0.994). The follow-up examination 5 months later revealed no damage of basal ganglia and cerebellum on magnetic resonance imaging. The neurological examination revealed no pathological findings. On the ocular coherence tomography, the retinal nerve fibres layer was normal. In visual evoked potentials, there was a normal evoked complex on the left eye and minor decrease in amplitude on the right eye. Combination of hydroxocobalamin and sodium thiosulfate can have a positive effect on the survival without long-term neurological and visual sequelae in the cases of massive cyanide poisonings due to the possibility of a potentiation or synergism of hydroxocobalamin effects by sodium thiosulfate. This synergism can be explained by the different time-points of action of two antidotes: the initial and immediate effect of hydroxocobalamin, followed by the delayed, but more persistent effect of sodium thiosulfate.

Severe Methanol Poisoning with Supralethal Serum Formate Concentration: A Case Report

OBJECTIVE

To present a case of survival without visual and central nervous system sequelae at a formate concentration of twice the reported lethal level.

CLINICAL PRESENTATION AND INTERVENTION

This was a case of a 33-year-old man who ingested 1 liter of a toxic mixture of methanol and ethanol. Upon admission, he presented with anxiety, tachycardia and hypertension and had a serum formate level of 1,400 mg/l (normal range 0.9-2.1 mg/l), a methanol level of 806 mg/l (normal range 2-30 mg/l), an undetectable ethanol concentration and a normal lactate level. A 10% solution of ethanol and folinic acid was administered intravenously and two 8-hour sessions of intermittent hemodialysis were performed. The patient was discharged on the fifth day without sequelae of poisoning. The follow-up examinations 3 months and 2 years later revealed no damage to the basal ganglia. The patient had normal visual-evoked potential and findings on optical coherence tomography. The genetic analysis revealed a rare minor allele for the gene coding CYP2E1 enzyme of the microsomal ethanol oxidizing system.

CONCLUSION

The patient survived acute methanol poisoning without long-term sequelae despite a high serum level of formic acid upon admission.

Fomepizole in the treatment of acute methanol poisonings: experience from the Czech mass methanol outbreak 2012-2013

OBJECTIVE

During an outbreak of mass methanol poisonings in the Czech Republic in 2012-2013, fomepizole was applied as an alternative antidote to ethanol. We present the laboratory data, clinical features, adverse reactions, and treatment outcomes in all patients treated with fomepizole.

METHODS

Combined retrospective and prospective case series study in 25 patients, median age 50 (16-73) years, 18 males and 7 females.

RESULTS

There were 24% fatalities, 36% survivors without health impairment, and 40% survivors with sequelae. All the patients who died were comatose on admission; the mortality was 50% among patients in a coma. The median intensive care unit length of stay was six (2-22) days. The median total dose of fomepizole was 2 (1-9) g. Complications were observed in 7/25 cases: aspiration pneumonia (4), sepsis (2), bleeding (2), malignant arrhythmia (1), delirium tremens (1), and rebound of acidosis (1). The patients who survived without impairment were less acidotic than those who died or survived with sequelae (P<0.01). No difference in serum methanol and formate was found between the three groups.

CONCLUSION

There is no evidence whether fomepizole is a more efficient antidote than ethanol with regards to the hospital mortality. The possibility of delirium tremens in the patients with a history of chronic alcohol abuse has to be taken in consideration. The benefits of fomepizole were indirect: no need to monitor serum ethanol's level during the hemodialysis in severely poisoned patients and less working overload on ICU doctors treating several poisoned patients simultaneously.