Pulmonary excretion of methanol in man

Abstract

An otherwise healthy methanol-poisoned male was treated with ethanol and forced diuresis. No acidosis or visual symptoms occurred. His blood ethanol concentrations varied between 10.7 and 30.0 mmol/l (0.49–1.38 g/l). His maximal blood methanol concentration was 14.4 mmol/l (0.45 g/l) and his plasma formate levels were within reference range (0.11–0.29 mmol/l). In a 24 h period where methanol metabolism was blocked by ethanol, the total body clearance and renal clearance of methanol were 11.3 and 5.7 ml/min, respectively. The difference, 5.6 ml/min, to a large extent reflects the pulmonary clearance of methanol thus being low in man.

Key Words:

• ethanol treatment
• formate
• methanol poisoning
• pulmonary clearance
• toxicokinetics