neurologic complications of methanol poisoning: a clinicoepidemiological report from poisoning treatment centers in tehran, iran

background: in this study we sought to investigate clinical findings (with a focus on neurologic effects) and also to analyze outcomes of a series of patients with methanol poisoning admitted to two poisoning treatment centers in tehran, iran. methods: in this prospective cross-sectional study, methanol-poisoned patients admitted to departments of forensic medicine and toxicology of loghman hakim and baharloo hospitals in tehran during october 2010 to october 2011 were included; and their data were recorded in predesigned checklists. results: twenty-eight methanol poisoned patients (82.1% men) with mean age of 29.3±4.6 years were studied. most patients (67.9%) had metabolic acidosis at presentation. on admission, all patients had different degrees of decrease in consciousness, who the majority of them (57.1%) were admitted with mildly reduced consciousness (grade i of grady coma scale). headache and vertigo were observed in 7.1% and 17.9% of patients, respectively. most patients (53.6%) had no ocular effects, while 46.6% of patients developed impaired vision. all patients received sodium bicarbonate. ethanol as antidote and folic acid were given to 18 patients (64.2%) and 16 patients (57.1%), respectively. six patients (21.4%) underwent hemodialysis. over half of the patients (53.6%) fully recovered and were discharged without complications. four patients (14.3%) developed total blindness. four patients (14.3%) left the hospital against medical advice by self-discharge (they had no significant complication at the time of discharge). five patients (17.9%) died; who compared to survived cases had significantly lower blood ph (p=0.028), higher coma grade (p< 0.001) and more delayed presentation to hospital (p=0.004). age had no significant impact on mortality.    conclusion: methanol poisoning causes major neurologic effects such as coma and blindness. it is also responsible for high mortality.