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. 2017 Jun;13(2):153-157.
doi: 10.1007/s13181-017-0598-4. Epub 2017 Jan 12.

Serum Calcium Concentration in Ethylene Glycol Poisoning

Michael Hodgman  1   2 , Jeanna M Marraffa  3   4 , Susan Wojcik  3 , William Grant  3
Affiliations

Serum Calcium Concentration in Ethylene Glycol Poisoning

Michael Hodgman et al. J Med Toxicol. 2017 Jun.

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.

Keywords: Anion gap metabolic acidosis; Ethylene glycol; Hypocalcemia; Toxic alcohol.

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Conflict of interest statement

Sources of Funding

No outside funding was used in support of this study.

Conflict of Interest

The authors have no conflicts to declare.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Graphs of regression analysis with 95% CI lines for relationship of total serum calcium, ionized calcium and corrected calcium with pH and serum calcium with HCO3
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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