Methanol Toxicity Differential Diagnoses

  • Author: Kalyani Korabathina, MD; Chief Editor: Tarakad S Ramachandran, MBBS, FRCP(C), FACP   more...
 
Updated: Feb 3, 2012
 
 

Diagnostic Considerations

Conditions to consider in the differential diagnosis of methanol intoxication include the following:

  • Arsenic poisoning
  • Cocaine poisoning
  • Inhalant poisoning
  • Complex partial seizures
  • Ethylene glycol intoxication
  • Carbon monoxide poisoning
  • Pseudoseizure
  • Any cause of altered mental status with acidosis and potential cardiovascular collapse

Differential Diagnoses

Proceed to Workup
 
 
Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Kalyani Korabathina, MD  Consulting Physician, North County Neurology Associates, Inc

Kalyani Korabathina, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Neurology and American Epilepsy Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Selim R Benbadis, MD  Professor, Director of Comprehensive Epilepsy Program, Departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Tampa General Hospital, University of South Florida College of Medicine

Selim R Benbadis, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Neurology, American Academy of Sleep Medicine, American Clinical Neurophysiology Society, American Epilepsy Society, and American Medical Association

Disclosure: UCB Pharma Honoraria Speaking, consulting; Lundbeck Honoraria Speaking, consulting; Cyberonics Honoraria Speaking, consulting; Glaxo Smith Kline Honoraria Speaking, consulting; Pfizer Honoraria Speaking, consulting; Sleepmed/DigiTrace Honoraria Speaking, consulting

David Likosky, MD  Director of Stroke Program, President of Medical Staff, Evergreen Hospital Medical Center

David Likosky, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Neurology, American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine, and American Heart Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Tarakad S Ramachandran, MBBS, FRCP(C), FACP  Professor of Neurology, Clinical Professor of Medicine, Clinical Professor of Family Medicine, Clinical Professor of Neurosurgery, State University of New York Upstate Medical University; Chair, Department of Neurology, Crouse Irving Memorial Hospital

Tarakad S Ramachandran, MBBS, FRCP(C), FACP is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Neurology, American Academy of Pain Medicine, American College of Forensic Examiners, American College of International Physicians, American College of Managed Care Medicine, American College of Physicians, American Heart Association, American Stroke Association, Royal College of Physicians, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, Royal College of Surgeons of England, and Royal Society of Medicine

Disclosure: Abbott Labs None None; Teva Marion None None; Boeringer-Ingelheim Honoraria Speaking and teaching

Additional Contributors

Nestor Galvez-Jimenez, MD, MSc, MHA Chairman, Department of Neurology, Program Director, Movement Disorders, Department of Neurology, Division of Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Florida

Nestor Galvez-Jimenez, MD, MSc, MHA is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Neurology, American College of Physicians, and Movement Disorders Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Jonathan S Rutchik, MD, MPH Assistant Professor, Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University of California at San Francisco

Jonathan S Rutchik, MD, MPH is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Neurology, American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine, American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, and Society of Toxicology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Medscape Salary Employment

References

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  11. Chio A, Herrero Hernandez E, Mora G, et al. Motor neuron disease and optic neuropathy after acute exposure to a methanol-containing solvent mixture. Amyotroph Lateral Scler Other Motor Neuron Disord. Sep 2004;5(3):188-91. [Medline].

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  13. Fujita M, Tsuruta R, Wakatsuki J, et al. Methanol intoxication: differential diagnosis from anion gap-increased acidosis. Intern Med. Aug 2004;43(8):750-4. [Medline].

  14. McKellar MJ, Hidajat RR, Elder MJ. Acute ocular methanol toxicity: clinical and electrophysiological features. Aust N Z J Ophthalmol. Aug 1997;25(3):225-30. [Medline].

  15. Blanco M, Casado R, Vazquez F, Pumar JM. CT and MR imaging findings in methanol intoxication. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. Feb 2006;27(2):452-4. [Medline].

  16. Hantson P, Duprez T, Mahieu P. Neurotoxicity to the basal ganglia shown by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) following poisoning by methanol and other substances. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol. 1997;35(2):151-61. [Medline].

  17. LoVecchio F, Sawyers B, Thole D, et al. Outcomes following abuse of methanol-containing carburetor cleaners. Hum Exp Toxicol. Oct 2004;23(10):473-5. [Medline].

  18. Sharma R, Marasini S, Sharma AK, Shrestha JK, Nepal BP. Methanol Poisoning: Ocular and Neurological Manifestations. Optom Vis Sci. Nov 28 2011;[Medline].

 
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