cz BACKGROUND: The objective of the study was to evaluate the severity of kidney damage retrospectively and to analyze prognostic factors following ethylene glycol (EG) poisonings. METHODS: Data concerning the clinical course of patients with EG poisoning between 2000 and 2002 were analyzed. The chi2 test, Student's t test, Fisher's test and the calculation of linear correlation coefficients were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Thirty-three discharge records were obtained. Three patients died, and 11 patients developed acute renal failure (mean maximum serum creatinine level 618 micromol/l). Upon discharge, serum creatinine levels were still elevated in 10 patients. In all but 1 patient, renal function completely normalized within 20 months after intoxication. CONCLUSION: Adult men are the most endangered segment of the population. The most important prognostic factors are the ingested dose and early antidotal treatment. EG toxic kidney damage is reversible.

Toxicological Information Centre Department of Occupational Medicine 1st Faculty of Medicine Charles University and General Teaching Hospital Prague Czech Republic