Lethal toxicity induced by combined ingestion of dietary acetic acid and carbamazepine

Abstract

Acetic acid is an organic acid that can be used in the food industry, which normally has an insignificant rate of adverse reactions when used rationally. However, irrational use can cause serious toxic effects and even death. In this context, the case of a death of a 52-year-old woman, involving the suspected voluntary use of food acetic acid, is presented, while toxicological and histopathological aspects were addressed for death mechanism elucidation. In this case, the pH value of 6.75 in blood, has shown severe metabolic acidosis after the ingestion of the large quantity of dietary acetic acid – about a liter. Also, the victim suffers from mental illness, carbamazepine being one of the treatment drugs. Liver damage, demonstrated by histopathological examination may be a consequence of both massive accumulation of carbamazepine in the liver and toxicity of food acetic acid. In conclusion, the hepatotoxicity induced by high level of carbamazepine was suspected of increasing the risk of multiple organ failure, in the context of acetic acid acute toxicity, highlighting the particularities of the case.

Keywords:

• Acetic acid
• acid intoxication
• respiratory acidosis
• mucosal necrosis
• hepatotoxicity

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).