Acute methanol intoxications registered in Varna region (Bulgaria) for a 25-year period

Abstract

This retrospective study was conducted to follow out acute intoxications with methanol in Varna region (Bulgaria) for a 25-year period (1991-2015). At that time, 98 patients with methanol poisoning were regis- tered in the Clinic of Toxicology of Military Medical Academy in Varna, Bulgaria. The average age of the patients was 44.5 years. The diagnosis was made based on symptoms and was confirmed by gas chromato- graphic analysis of methanol concentration. The majority of poisonings were accidental - 88.9 %, and only a small part was with suicidal intentions (9.2%). Lethal outcome was registered in 38 patients. Eight of the survived patients (13.3%) were with residual visual impairment and six of them had permanent neurologi- cal complications.