Diagnostic and prognostic value of optic nerve sheath diameter in methanol intoxication

Background: Methanol intoxication can lead to death, and early differential diagnosis and treatment are of paramount importance. In this study, patients with ethanol and methanol intoxication were compared in terms of optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD). We also examined ONSD as a diagnostic parameter and a predictor of mortality. Methods: This retrospective study included patients who presented to the emergency department due to alcohol consumption and divided them according to the presence of methanol intoxication versus no methanol intoxication. Demographic data, vital parameters, ONSD values, need for dialysis, visual impairment, and survival were recorded. Results: Mean ONSD in the methanol group was significantly higher than in the ethanol group (p < 0.001). In the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis conducted to evaluate the predictive power of ONSD in distinguishing methanol intoxication from ethanol intoxication, an ONSD cut-off value of 5.57 mm was found to have a sensitivity of 85.2% and a specificity of 80.0% (Area under the curve (AUC) = 0.887; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.801–0.973; p < 0.001). Conclusions: The results obtained in the current study showed that ONSD value is high in methanol poisoning cases and can be used in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with alcohol consumption and suspected methanol toxicity.

Alcohol; Ethanol; Methanol; Optical disk; ONSD

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