Lesson learn in toxicology from the patient: methanol intoxication

Abstract

Methanol intoxication is not uncommon case which may cause severe morbidity and permanent disability. The patient developed coma, high anion gap metabolic acidosis and visual impairment with no obvious history of methanol consumption. After recovered from acute intoxication, the patient developed acute hematoma on top of putamen necrosis which is one of the uncommon complication of methanol intoxication. This article described systematic approach to diagnose the unknown cause of coma with metabolic acidosis. The pathophysiology and treatment of methanol intoxication were also reviewed.