A 55-year-old man presented with acute onset vomiting, tetraplegia and ptosis, that progressed to renal failure and coma, four days after consuming beer. Several people that consumed that specific beer developed similar symptoms. Brain MRI showed restricted diffusion on cerebellum and thalamus (Figures 1 and 2). Beer analysis showed high levels of diethylene glycol. Patient died days later.
Diethylene glycol is a substance commonly used in industrial products including antifreeze and coolant. Its toxicity causes severe metabolic acidosis, coma and multiorgan failure1. Neurological toxicity is less well characterized, but brain MRI lesions may include cerebellar and thalamic abnormalities, with diffuse restriction2.
Figure 1.
Axial FLAIR- (A) and T2-weighted (B) brain MRI shows bilateral hyperintense signal in the superior region of the cerebellar hemispheres (arrows). Axial FLAIR- (C) and T2-weighted (D) brain MRI shows hyperintense signal in ventromedial region of the thalamus (arrows).
Axial FLAIR- (A) and T2-weighted (B) brain MRI shows bilateral hyperintense signal in the superior region of the cerebellar hemispheres (arrows). Axial FLAIR- (C) and T2-weighted (D) brain MRI shows hyperintense signal in ventromedial region of the thalamus (arrows).
References
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1. Schep LJ, Slaughter RJ, Temple WA, Beasley DM. Diethylene Glycol Poisoning. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2009 Jul;47(6):525-35. https://doi.org/10.1080/15563650903086444
» https://doi.org/10.1080/15563650903086444 -
2. Imam YZB, Kamran S, Karim H, Elalamy O, Sokrab T, Osman Y, Deleu D. Neurological manifestation of recreational fatal and near-fatal diethylene glycol poisonings: case series and review of literature. Medicine (Baltimore). 2014 Aug;93(10):e62. https://doi.org/10.1097/md.0000000000000062
» https://doi.org/10.1097/md.0000000000000062
Publication Dates
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Publication in this collection
11 June 2021 -
Date of issue
July 2021
History
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Received
20 July 2020 -
Accepted
26 Sept 2020