Clinico-pathological findings of experimental ethylene glycol poisoning in dogs

Ethylene glycol 중독견의 임상병리학적 소견

Present study was undertaken in order to find out the most significant laboratory test for the early diagnosis of ethylene glycol poisoning in dogs. Seven dogs weighing from 5.0kg to 19.3kg were administered orally 6ml or l0ml of ethylene glycol per kilogram of body weight. In addition to clinical observations, blood samples were taken from the jugular vein on 0, 1, 3, 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours or until death after the adminisration and examined for the hematological, blood chemical, venous blood gas and electrolyte changes. Urine samples were simultaneously taken and examined for pH, protein, glucose and calcium oxalate crystals in the sediments. The results were as follows : 1. All dogs showed marked hypothermia in addition to the characteristic signs of ethylene glycol poisoning until death. 2. No significant hematological changes were observable after the administration of ethylene glycol except the secondary dehydration and stress leukogram. 3. Chemical values related to the liver function(serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase, total serum protein, serum albumin, serum total bilirubin) showed no significant changes during the experimental period in all dogs. 4. Chemical values related to the renal function(BUN and creatinine) showed significant(p<0.0l, p<0.001) increase from 24 hours to death in all dogs. 5. All dogs showed significant(p<0.01, p<0.001) decrease in blood pH from 3 hours to death after the ethylene glycol administration. 6. All dogs showed significant(p<0.05, p<0.01, p<0.001) increaes in anion gap from 1 hour to death after the ethylene glycol administration. 7. All dogs showed significant(p<0.05, p<0.01) decrease in urine pH from 1 hour to 6 hours after the administration of ethylene glycol. 8. Characteristic envelope form of calcium oxalate crystals were found in the urinary sediment from 6 hours after the administration of ethylene glycol in all dogs. 9. Histologically calcium oxalate crystals were found in the renal rubles in all dogs. 10. From these results, it may be concluded that the examinations of urinary sediments for the calcium oxalate crystals, blood or urinary pH and blood anion gap are most reliable tests for the early diagnosis of ethylene glycol poisoning in dogs.