Abstract
There are a number of cases reported in the literature which describe hyperglycaemia in patients following paracetamol overdose. The majority of these occur in conjunction with hepatic failure. Less well known is the occurrence of hyperglycaemia and acidosis following paracetamol overdose in the absence of hepatic failure. This report describes such a case which was initially misdiagnosed as diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).
[download-attachments container="div" style="list" dipslay_icon="1" display_count="1" display__size="0"]
References
- Copland AM, Mather J, Ness A, et al. Apparent hyperglycaemia in paracetamol overdose. Br J Gen Pract. 1992 Jun; 42(359): 259–60.
- Lawrence IG, Lear J, Burden AC, et al. Hyperglycaemia induced by paracetamol. Postgrad Med J. 1995 Nov; 71(841): 702.
- Hinson JA, Han-Hsu H, Mays JB, et al. Acetaminophen-induced alterations in blood glucose and blood insulin levels in mice. Res Commun Chem Pathol Pharmacol. 1984 Mar; 43(3): 381–91.
- Yang CC, Deng JF, Lin TJ. Pancytopenia, hyperglycaemia, shock, coma, rhabdomyolysis, and pancreatitis associated with acetaminophen poisoning. Vet Hum Toxicol. 2001 Dec; 43(6): 344–8.
- Hinson JA, Mays JB, Cameron AM. Acetaminophen-induced hepatic glycogen depletion and hyperglycaemia in mice. Biochem Pharmacol. 1983 Jul 1; 32(13): 1979–88.
- Ferguson DV, Roberts DW, Han-Shu H, et al. Acetaminophen-induced alterations in pancreatic beta cells and serum insulin concentrations in B6C3F1 mice. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 1990 Jun 15; 104(2): 225–34.
- Roth B, Woo O, Blanc P. Early metabolic acidosis and coma after acetaminophen ingestion. Ann Emerg Med. 1999 Apr; 33(4): 452–6.
- Koulouris Z, Tierney MG, Jones G. Metabolic acidosis and coma following a severe acetaminophen overdose. Ann Pharmacother. 1999 Nov; 33(11): 1191–4.
- Direct communication with Roche Diagnostics Limited, Burgess Hill, UK, www.roche-diagnostics.co.ukhttps://www.roche.co.uk/
