177
Views
20
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Research Article

Methanol Toxicity in a Newborn

, M.D. & , M.D.
Pages 673-677 | Received 14 Jan 2004, Accepted 04 May 2004, Published online: 30 Aug 2004
 

Abstract

Background: Methanol poisoning during human pregnancy rarely has been described. We report the first human newborn with a documented methanol concentration resulting from maternal exposure. Case Report: A 28‐year‐old pregnant woman EGA 30 weeks with HIV infection and asthma presented to the emergency department in respiratory distress. She was acidotic (pH 7.17) with an anion gap of 26, and fetal bradycardia was noted. Her son was delivered by emergent C‐section (birthweight 950 g, Apgars 1 and 3) and required aggressive resuscitation. During his hospital course, acidosis (initial pH 6.9) persisted despite fluid, blood, and bicarbonate administration. His mother also had persistent metabolic acidosis despite fluids, bicarbonate, and dopamine. Results of other laboratory tests on the mother included undetectable ethanol and salicylates and an osmolar gap of 41. An ethanol drip was initiated for the mother 36 h after admission when a methanol level of 54 mg/dL was reported. When consulted on hospital day 3, our regional poison center recommended hemodialysis for the mother and administering fomepizole and testing the methanol level of the newborn (61.6 mg/dL). Because the infant developed a grade 4 intraventricular bleed, no further therapy was offered, and he died on day 4. His mother died on day 10. Conclusion: Fatal neonatal methanol toxicity can result from transplacental exposure.

Reprints and Corporate Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

To request a reprint or corporate permissions for this article, please click on the relevant link below:

Academic Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

Obtain permissions instantly via Rightslink by clicking on the button below:

If you are unable to obtain permissions via Rightslink, please complete and submit this Permissions form. For more information, please visit our Permissions help page.