alcoholic ketoacidosis


alcoholic ketoacidosis

Acute metabolic ketoacidosis classically seen 1–2 days after an alcohol binge coupled with a decrease in “real” food, resulting in a starvation response, which is exacerbated by vomiting, beta-hydroxybutyrate accumulation due to reduced fatty acid oxidation, and an excess of acetyl-co-A.
Clinical findings Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain; intact mental status.
DiffDx Diabetic ketoacidosis, hypothermia.
Lab No alcohol on board, high free fatty acids, increased ketones (acetone, acetoacetate, beta-hydroxybutyrate), no hyperglycaemia.

alcoholic ketoacidosis

Ketoacidosis 2º to alcohol abuse, in which ketone bodies–eg, acetone, accumulate in the circulation, which is evoked by conditions that encourage fat metabolism. See Diabetic ketoacidosis.

alcoholic ketoacidosis

Ketoacidosis that results from the hypercatecholaminergic effects of alcohol withdrawal, in addition to starvation, and dehydration. See also: ketoacidosis