antifreeze

antifreeze

A fluid with a high concentration of ethylene glycol or methanol, which is added to car, truck and other cooling systems for internal combustion engines to substantially reduce the freezing point of the coolant.

Antifreeze has long had currency as a surrogate inebriant despite it being associated with acidosis and renal shutdown (due to ethylene glycol), as well as blindness (due to methanol).

Clinical findings
In low amounts, antifreeze simulates alcohol metabolism; at high levels, it is associated with nausea, vomiting, seizures, coma or death (at levels above 100 ml of ethylene glycol).

Segen's Medical Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.

antifreeze

Toxicology A fluid with a high concentration of ethylene glycol or methanol, which is added to car, truck, and other cooling systems for internal combustion engines to substantially ↓ the freezing point of the coolant; antifreeze has long had currency as a surrogate inebriant, despite its being associated with acidosis and renal shutdown–ethylene glycol and blindness–methanol Clinical In low amounts, antifreeze simulates alcohol metabolism; at high levels, it is associated with N&V, seizures, coma, death, at levels above 100 ml of ethylene glycol. See Leukovorin rescue. Methotrexatre

McGraw-Hill Concise Dictionary of Modern Medicine. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.