[How to differentiate acute isopropanol poisoning from ethanol intoxication? -- a case report].

18-year-old man was found at the street in an unconsious state and brought to Department of Acute Poisonings with suspicion of unknown xenobiotic ingestion. There was no reliable informations concerning poisoning circumstances. On admission patient was confused and unable to answer questions; physical examination revealed symptoms resembling ethanol intoxication. Results of laboratory tests (e.g., ketonemia and lack of abnormalities of gasometric parameters; ethanol, methanol and ethylene glycol in blood and urine were absent) enabled to presume acute poisoning with isopropyl alcohol. According to informations obtained from patient's parents he had drunk unknown amount of liquid using as printing machine cleaner. During next hours rising acetone concentration in blood (1.7 g/l--4 hours after admission, 2.4 g/l--12 hours after admission) and ketonuria were observed. There was no possibility to evaluate level of isopropanol in blood and urine up to 12 hours after admission--gas chromatography performed at that time revealed lack of isopropanol both in blood and urine. Liquid brought by patient's parents was identified (on gas chromatography) as isopropyl alcohol. Patient was directed to be treated on hemodialysis, because of high concentration acetone in blood. After 16 hours--long hemodialysis patient came back to Department of Acute Poisonings. 3 days later patient left hospital in good condition.