The treatment for the ingestion of ethylene glycol is an intravenous solution of ethanol. How might this help prevent toxic leve

Question

Stella [2.4K]

3 years ago

5

The treatment for the ingestion of ethylene glycol is an intravenous solution of ethanol. How might this help prevent toxic leve

ls of oxalic acid in the body

Medicine

1 answer:

lutik1710 [3] · Answer 1 · 2022-05-04T15:16:40+03:00

Answer:

Ethanol prevents toxicity by competing with Ethylene glycol for metabolism by alcohol dehydrogenase.

Explanation:

Ethylene glycol is an organic compound usually used in antifreeze solutions, solvents and cleaners.

It is abused during self-destruction and accidental intakes.

In the body, ethylene glycol is acted upon by alcohol dehydrogenase and is converted into glycolate and oxalate.

Glycolate and oxalate are both nephrotoxic/ kidney damaging substances. Oxalate precipitates calcium oxalate stones in the kidney. Ethylene glycol poisoning also causes high anion gap metabolic acidosis.

In order to prevent ethylene glycol poisoning, the patient is infused with ethanol, ethanol prevents toxicity by competing with Ethylene glycol for metabolism by alcohol dehydrogenase. In this way, ethylene glycol is not metabolized and the formation of nephrotoxic substances is prevented. Alcohol dehydrogenase instead reacts with ethanol to form acetaldehyde.