Intoxication aiguë au méthanol

Abstract

Methanol is an alcohol frequently used as a solvent in the industry, and as an antifreeze and cleaning agent for domestic use. Weakly toxic by itself, its main metabolite (formic acid) induces severe ocular and neurological toxicities. The diagnostic of an intoxication is based on the coexistence of acidosis with increased anion gap and osmolar gap coupled with the presence of methanol in blood. Treatment involves alcalinization, administration of inhibitors of methanol metabolism (ethanol, 4-methylpyrazole) and hemodialysis for severe cases.