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Methyl alcohol poisoning: an autopsy study of 28 cases.
BV Mittal, AP Desai, KR Khade
Department of Pathology, Seth G.S. Medical College, Parel, Bombay, Maharashtra.
Correspondence Address:
B V Mittal
Department of Pathology, Seth G.S. Medical College, Parel, Bombay, Maharashtra.
Twenty eight fatal cases out of the 97 cases of methyl alcohol (MA) poisoning admitted to K. E. M. Hospital in August 1988 during a single outbreak were studied. The latent period between consumption of the drink and development of symptoms was variable (range 7 1/2 hours to 60 hours). CNS symptoms were predominant (75% of cases) and shock either at admission or as a late event was seen in 89% of the cases. Blurring of vision was seen in 42.8% and blindness in 10.7% of cases. Minimum fatal period was 7 1/2 hours and maximum was 12 days. Methanol levels in blood and viscera were variable (average 155.8 mg%, max. 420.4 mg%). In 4 cases, significant amount of MA was detected in stomach contents 5-12 days after consumption of MA, raising the question of resecretion of MA in stomach. Shrinkage and degeneration of neurons in the parietal cortex was seen in 85.7% of cases. Putamental degeneration and necrosis was seen in 7.14%. Haemorrhage (3.5%) and sponginess (7.14%) was observed in the optic chiasma. Severe renal tubular degeneration and patchy necrosis was seen in all cases. Fatty changes (67.8%) and microvesicular fat (42.5%) were seen in the hepatocytes.
How to cite this article:
Mittal B V, Desai A P, Khade K R. Methyl alcohol poisoning: an autopsy study of 28 cases. J Postgrad Med 1991;37:9-13
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How to cite this URL:
Mittal B V, Desai A P, Khade K R. Methyl alcohol poisoning: an autopsy study of 28 cases. J Postgrad Med [serial online] 1991 [cited 2023 Jun 9 ];37:9-13
Available from: https://www.jpgmonline.com/article.asp?issn=0022-3859;year=1991;volume=37;issue=1;spage=9;epage=13;aulast=Mittal;type=0 |
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