Poisoning with methanol and ethylene glycol:: 1H NMR spectroscopy as an effective clinical tool for diagnosis and quantification.

Analysis of serum and urine samples from three patients in a metabolic acidotic state was performed using biochemical methods and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (H-1 NMR). Methanol and ethylene glycol were identified by their singlet peaks in the H-1 NMR spectra recorded directly from 0.5 mi of the collected samples. Quantification of these compounds was obtained simultaneously with that of their metabolites, formate and glycolate respectively and of lactate and ethanol, the latter being used as an antidote. The NMR results were found to be very similar to the biochemical findings. The results presented here suggest that H-1 NMR can be clinically useful since it quickly provides information on the onset of metabolic acidosis and on the biotransformation of xenobiotics. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.