Clinical Characteristics and Prognostic Factors in Methanol Intoxication: A Retrospective Study from a Tertiary Emergency Department

Mustafa Açıkgöz; Hakan Barış Demirbaş; Caner Sağlam; Erden Erol Ünlüer

doi:10.51262/ejtox.1755468

Clinical Characteristics and Prognostic Factors in Methanol Intoxication: A Retrospective Study from a Tertiary Emergency Department

Abstract

Objective: Methanol poisoning remains a major cause of toxicological mortality due to the diagnostic challenges and delayed presentation. This study aimed to evaluate the epidemiological profile, clinical features, laboratory parameters and outcomes of patients presenting to the emergency department with methanol intoxication. Methods: This retrospective study included patients admitted to our emergency department between January 1, 2017, and January 1, 2021, with a clinical diagnosis of methanol poisoning. Inclusion criteria were: suspected methanol ingestion, supportive history and physical findings, and high anion gap metabolic acidosis (pH < 7.3, HCO₃ < 20 mEq/L, anion gap > 20 mEq/L). Demographic data, presenting symptoms, laboratory values, and outcomes were compared between survivor and non-survivor groups. Results: Among 41 patients, 87.8% were male with a mean age of 52.2 ± 10.8 years. In-hospital mortality was 41.5%. Altered mental status at presentation was significantly more frequent in non-survivors (64.7%) than survivors (25.0%, p = 0.011). Mortality among patients with altered consciousness reached 69.2%. Survivors presented more often with visual complaints (54.2% vs. 23.5%), though the difference was not statistically significant(0.101). Non-survivors had lower mean pulse rates (84.5 ± 23.2 vs. 106.0 ± 26.6 bpm, p = 0.004), and more severe metabolic acidosis (mean pH 6.86 ± 0.23, HCO₃ 6.66 ± 3.57, base deficit −23.77 ± 5.23). ROC analysis confirmed strong associations between mortality and low pH, bicarbonate, and base deficit levels, as well as elevated lactate, glucose, and anion gap values. Conclusion: Methanol poisoning diagnosis is primarily clinical, and early detection is vital to reduce morbidity and mortality. The severity of metabolic acidosis and altered mental status at admission are key indicators of poor prognosis.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

None

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Emergency Medicine

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Mustafa Açıkgöz
0009-0000-3076-4894
Türkiye

Hakan Barış Demirbaş ^*
0000-0001-9221-3692
Qatar

Caner Sağlam
0000-0002-9967-4456
Türkiye

Erden Erol Ünlüer
0000-0003-0334-7440
Türkiye

Publication Date

August 31, 2025

Submission Date

August 1, 2025

Acceptance Date

August 13, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 7 Number: 2

DOI

https://doi.org/10.51262/ejtox.1755468

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA84AA62JJ

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Açıkgöz, M., Demirbaş, H. B., Sağlam, C., & Ünlüer, E. E. (2025). Clinical Characteristics and Prognostic Factors in Methanol Intoxication: A Retrospective Study from a Tertiary Emergency Department. Eurasian Journal of Toxicology, 7(2), 32-36. https://doi.org/10.51262/ejtox.1755468

AMA

1.Açıkgöz M, Demirbaş HB, Sağlam C, Ünlüer EE. Clinical Characteristics and Prognostic Factors in Methanol Intoxication: A Retrospective Study from a Tertiary Emergency Department. Eurasian J Tox. 2025;7(2):32-36. doi:10.51262/ejtox.1755468

Chicago

Açıkgöz, Mustafa, Hakan Barış Demirbaş, Caner Sağlam, and Erden Erol Ünlüer. 2025. “Clinical Characteristics and Prognostic Factors in Methanol Intoxication: A Retrospective Study from a Tertiary Emergency Department”. Eurasian Journal of Toxicology 7 (2): 32-36. https://doi.org/10.51262/ejtox.1755468.

EndNote

Açıkgöz M, Demirbaş HB, Sağlam C, Ünlüer EE (August 1, 2025) Clinical Characteristics and Prognostic Factors in Methanol Intoxication: A Retrospective Study from a Tertiary Emergency Department. Eurasian Journal of Toxicology 7 2 32–36.

IEEE

[1]M. Açıkgöz, H. B. Demirbaş, C. Sağlam, and E. E. Ünlüer, “Clinical Characteristics and Prognostic Factors in Methanol Intoxication: A Retrospective Study from a Tertiary Emergency Department”, Eurasian J Tox, vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 32–36, Aug. 2025, doi: 10.51262/ejtox.1755468.

ISNAD

Açıkgöz, Mustafa - Demirbaş, Hakan Barış - Sağlam, Caner - Ünlüer, Erden Erol. “Clinical Characteristics and Prognostic Factors in Methanol Intoxication: A Retrospective Study from a Tertiary Emergency Department”. Eurasian Journal of Toxicology 7/2 (August 1, 2025): 32-36. https://doi.org/10.51262/ejtox.1755468.

JAMA

1.Açıkgöz M, Demirbaş HB, Sağlam C, Ünlüer EE. Clinical Characteristics and Prognostic Factors in Methanol Intoxication: A Retrospective Study from a Tertiary Emergency Department. Eurasian J Tox. 2025;7:32–36.

MLA

Açıkgöz, Mustafa, et al. “Clinical Characteristics and Prognostic Factors in Methanol Intoxication: A Retrospective Study from a Tertiary Emergency Department”. Eurasian Journal of Toxicology, vol. 7, no. 2, Aug. 2025, pp. 32-36, doi:10.51262/ejtox.1755468.

Vancouver

1.Mustafa Açıkgöz, Hakan Barış Demirbaş, Caner Sağlam, Erden Erol Ünlüer. Clinical Characteristics and Prognostic Factors in Methanol Intoxication: A Retrospective Study from a Tertiary Emergency Department. Eurasian J Tox. 2025 Aug. 1;7(2):32-6. doi:10.51262/ejtox.1755468