Calcium oxalate crystals in acute ethylene glycol poisoning: a confocal laser scanning microscope study in a fatal case.

BACKGROUND

The severity of ethylene glycol toxicity is related to the metabolic acidosis resulting from the biotransformation of ethylene glycol into toxic metabolites. Glycolic acid causes severe acidosis and oxalate precipitates as calcium oxalate in the kidneys and other tissues.

METHODS

An adult male was taken to the local hospital by the team rescue and was apparently unconscious; severe metabolic acidosis and renal failure led to death a few hours after the arrival. Confocal laser scanning microscopy demonstrated oxalate crystals deposition within the tubular epithelial cells and widespread necrosis of the tubular epithelium in the proximal tubules. Toxicological examinations revealed ethylene glycol; the blood level was 250 mg/L and in urine the concentration was 0.3%.

CONCLUSIONS

In cases of ethylene glycol poisoning, calcium oxalate may be excreted not only as dihydrate crystals, but also as monohydrate crystals. Direct toxicity, cortical edema, and inhibition of mitochondrial activity, as evidenced by decreased succinate dehydrogenase activity, are possible mechanisms of crystal damage. Since calcium oxalate monohydrate crystals are transported intracellularly by kidney cells, the renal toxicity of ethylene glycol may result from inhibition of mitochondrial respiratory function in proximal tubular cells by calcium oxalate monohydrate crystals.

CONCLUSIONS

The histologic diagnosis of acute renal failure secondary to ethylene glycol poisoning depends on the recognitions of the changes of acute tubular damage in association with calcium oxalate crystals deposition within the tubular epithelial cells and the widespread necrosis of the tubular epithelium in the proximal tubules.