POISONING WITH METHANOL AND ETHYLENE-GLYCOL - H-1-NMR SPECTROSCOPY ASAN EFFECTIVE CLINICAL TOOL FOR DIAGNOSIS AND QUANTIFICATION

Analysis of serum and urine samples from three patients in a metabolic acidotic state was performed using biochemical methods and proton nuc lear magnetic resonance (H-1 NMR). Methanol and ethylene glycol were i dentified by their singlet peaks in the H-1 NMR spectra recorded direc tly from 0.5 mi of the collected samples. Quantification of these comp ounds was obtained simultaneously with that of their metabolites, form ate and glycolate respectively and of lactate and ethanol, the latter being used as an antidote. The NMR results were found to be very simil ar to the biochemical findings. The results presented here suggest tha t H-1 NMR can be clinically useful since it quickly provides informati on on the onset of metabolic acidosis and on the biotransformation of xenobiotics. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserve d.