Recognition of a disulfiram ethanol reaction in the emergency department is not always straightforward.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Disulfiram is an adjunct in the treatment of alcohol use disorders, but case reports indicate that disulfiram ethanol reactions are not always recognized in the emergency department. Our first aim is to remind of this risk with two case reports of life-threatening reactions not immediately considered by the emergency physician. The second aim is to estimate the probability that a disulfiram reaction goes unrecognized with the use of a retrospective study of patients admitted to the emergency department.

Methods

Clinical files of patients admitted between October 1, 2010 and September 30, 2014 to the emergency department were retrospectively screened for the key words "ethanol use" and "disulfiram". Their diagnoses were then scored by a panel regarding the probabil

SUBMITTER: Segher K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7714420 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature