How does ethanol work in ethylene glycol poisoning?

How does ethanol work in ethylene glycol poisoning?

The toxicity of ethylene glycol comes from its metabolism to glycolic acid and oxalic acid. The goal of pharmacotherapy is to prevent the formation of these metabolites. Ethanol acts by competing with ethylene glycol for alcohol dehydrogenase, the first enzyme in the degradation pathway.

How does alcohol treat ethylene glycol?

Ethanol competes for alcohol dehydrogenase and has a greater affinity for the enzyme, making it useful for inhibiting the metabolism of ethylene glycol [15]. Although this is an appropriate treatment to prevent toxic metabolite production, ethanol therapy can be accompanied by substantial practical problems.

How does ethanol work as an antidote for methanol poisoning?

Ethanol, the active ingredient in alcoholic beverages, acts as a competitive inhibitor by more effectively binding and saturating the alcohol dehydrogenase enzyme in the liver, thus blocking the binding of methanol.

Why a patient might be given ethanol if they are thought to have ingested ethylene glycol?

Treatment of ethylene glycol toxicity is with ethanol, which inhibits alcohol dehydrogenase, fomepizole, which also inhibits alcohol dehydrogenase, and bicarbonate to treat acidosis [38]. In some cases hemodialysis has been used [39,40]. Propylene glycol has been reported to cause lactic acidosis after overdose [41].

Why is ethanol used to treat antifreeze?

Doctors prescribe antidotes, such as fomepizole and ethanol, to prevent a person’s body from metabolizing the chemicals in antifreeze into toxic metabolites. Antidote therapy can help prevent further kidney damage but does not remove metabolites that have already collected inside the kidneys.

What is the difference between ethanol and ethylene glycol?

Ethylene glycol (EG) is a colorless, odorless, bittersweet-tasting liquid that has many household and commercial uses. Ethylene glycol is a “toxic alcohol”, meaning that although chemically it is similar to ethanol (the active component of alcoholic beverages), it is much more poisonous if consumed.

What is ethanol poisoning used to treat?

The treatment of these poisonings consists of bicarbonate to reverse the metabolic acidosis, alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) inhibition by either ethanol or fomepizole, and haemodialysis to enhance the elimination of the alcohols and their metabolites.

How can ethanol be used as an antidote?

Competitively blocks the formation of toxic metabolites in toxic alcohol ingestion by having a higher affinity for the enzyme Alcohol Dehydrogenase (ADH). Its chief application is in methanol and ethylene glycol ingestion, although it has been used with other toxic alcohols.

What is the function of ethanol?

Ethanol is an important industrial chemical; it is used as a solvent, in the synthesis of other organic chemicals, and as an additive to automotive gasoline (forming a mixture known as a gasohol). Ethanol is also the intoxicating ingredient of many alcoholic beverages such as beer, wine, and distilled spirits.

Is ethylene glycol soluble in ethanol?

Chemical Properties Ethylene glycol,CH20HCH20H, also known as glycol,ethylene alcohol, glycol alcohol, and dihydric alcohol, is a colorless liquid. It is soluble in water and in alcohol.

What is glycol ethanol?

How are antidotes used to prevent ethylene glycol poisoning?

The prevention of ethylene glycol metabolism is accomplished by the use of antidotes that inhibit alcohol dehydrogenase. Historically, this has been done with intoxicating doses of ethanol.

Can you use alcohol instead of ethylene glycol?

Fomepizole (4-methyl pyrazole; Antizol), blocks alcohol dehydrogenase and can be used instead of ethanol. Alcohol does not form any complex with ethylene glycol, it does not induce alcohol dehydrogenase enzyme and even it does not promote the excretion of metabolites of ethylene glycol.

Why does ethanol block the metabolism of ethylene glycol?

Because ethanol is the preferential substrate for alcohol dehydrogenase, the presence of ethanol may essentially block the metabolism of ethylene glycol. For patients presenting within 30–60 minutes after ingestion, the stomach is emptied by gastric lavage.

Which is better for alcohol dehydrogenase ethanol or ethyl glycol?

Ethyl alcohol binds much more easily to alcohol dehydrogenase than ethylene glycol or methanol does. Because ethanol is the preferential substrate for alcohol dehydrogenase, the presence of ethanol may essentially block the metabolism of ethylene glycol.