Ethylene Glycol Poisoning: Likelihood Ratios

Introduction: None written.

The likelihood ratios of findings for Ethylene Glycol Poisoning are listed below. See the left navigation bar to change the display.

Untagged

Finding	+LR	-LR	Comments, Study
Calcium Oxalate Crystals	Sensitivity = 50%		envelope shaped. Could not read abstract/text, but citation in Rosen's Emergency Med says <50% sensitivity. No specificity. Study: Scand J Clin Lab Invest. 1982 May;42(3):231-4. PMID: 7134806
Elevated Osmolal Gap	1.7	0.3	Using equation: Osmc = 2Na(mEq/L) + BUN(mmol/L) + glucose(mmol/L) + 1.25ethanol(mmol/L) OR (in US units) - Osmc (mOsm/kg) = 2(Na+) + [BUN/2.8] + [glucose/18] + 1.25[ethanol (mg/dL)/4.6] Normal is <= 10 mOsm/kg. This is for identifying patients requiring an antidote for overdose. Study:* BMC Emerg Med. 2008 Apr 28;8:5. PMID: 18442409
Urine Fluorescence	1.3	0.9	under UV light (Wood's lamp) - only applicable if ingestion was antifreeze, which has Na Fluorescein added! This study was simulated, not actual poisoning patients. Study: Ann Emerg Med. 2001 Jul;38(1):49-54. PMID: 11423812