Ethanol for Ethylene Glycol Poisoning

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Abstract
To the Editor: We are concerned about the recommendations made by Peterson et al. for treatment of ethylene glycol poisoning.1 The authors advocate oral instead of intravenous ethanol therapy because of the large volume of 5 per cent ethanol required. This recommendation is unjustified, since higher concentrations of intravenous ethanol can be given. The loading dose of ethanol (intravenous or oral) is 0.6 g per kilogram of body weight, or about 40 g for a 70-kg man, to achieve a plasma concentration of 100 mg per deciliter. We suggest that this loading dose be given by whatever technique is fastest . . .