Metabolic acidosis in toluene sniffing

An unusual case of toluene-induced metabolic acidosis.

We used gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to analyze serum specimens from a patient whose metabolic ketoacidosis resulted from sniffing a toluene-containing substance; we also analyzed a sample of the abused substance itself and a serum specimen from a normal subject. The blood samples from the patient showed abnormally high concentrations of acetoacetic, azelaic, benzoic, and 3-hydroxybutyr...

Metabolic acidosis in burns.

All our tests with the Navictda sp. were negative. It was apparent, therefore, that this was not the cause of trouble but that Fragilaria striatula was suspect. This is in agreement with the report of Fraser and Lyell (1963) that an eczematous eruption in an Aberdeen fisherman was caused by Fragilaria struia. That this diatom, alone out of so many present in the sea, should have a harmful effec...

Toluene toxicity as a cause of elevated anion gap metabolic acidosis.

Dyspnea and elevated anion gap metabolic acidosis are common presenting problems in critically ill patients. In certain cases, however, the standard workup for these problems does not reveal an etiology, and other diagnoses must be considered. We describe a woman who presented with dyspnea and severe acidemia due to a profound metabolic acidosis, who was subsequently found to have toluene toxic...

Renal tubular acidosis and severe hypophosphataemia due to toluene inhalation.

A 21-year-old woman developed severe muscle paralysis after sniffing toluene-containing thinner solution for 2 weeks. Her serum chemistries revealed severe hypokalaemia and a normal anion gap hyperchloraemic metabolic acidosis secondary to renal tubular acidosis. Her initial presentation mimicked hypokalaemic periodic paralysis, but toxicology screening of her blood and urine revealed the corre...

Metabolic acidosis in newborn infants.