Brake fluid toxicity feigning brain death

BMJ Case Rep. 2012 Jul 10:2012:bcr0220125926. doi: 10.1136/bcr-02-2012-5926.

Abstract

Brake fluid (glycol-based) toxicity is known to have a protean of central and peripheral nervous system manifestations. The principal component of this household poison is ethylene glycol. Toxic effect is generally attributed to peri-vascular deposition of calcium oxalate crystals in various tissues. However, clinical features resembling brain death have rarely been reported. We report a case of brake fluid toxicity simulating brain death in a 21-year-old healthy man who ingested it as a recreational agent.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Brain / drug effects*
  • Brain Death / diagnosis*
  • Ethylene Glycol / poisoning*
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Humans
  • Immobility Response, Tonic*
  • Male
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Ethylene Glycol