Visual Acuity of Methanol Intoxicated Patients Before and After Hemodialysis, Methylprednisolone and Prednisone Therapy

Methanol intoxication is intoxication because of methanol comsumption causing simmetrical optic neuropathy, metabolic acidosis and death. The mechanism of methanol toxicity has closely been linked to the effect of formic acid from methanol by alcohol dehydrogenase. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship of visual acuity in methanol intoxication before and after hemodialysis, methylprednisolone and prednisone therapy. This study was a retrospective descriptive study to sixteen subjects. Each subject was treated with hemodialysis and methylprednisolone 1000 mg/day intravenous for three days, continued with prednisone 1mg/kgbw/dayfor 11 days. Visual acuity and optic nerve were observed on the first, second, third, and seventh day. The larger proportion were males (94%). The mean age was 28.8 ± 8.7 years. The onset to hospital was 29.2 ± 13.3 hours after methanol intoxication. Visual acuity at the first hospitalized was 1.42 ± 0.36 logMAR on the right eye and 1.45 ± 0.37 logMAR on the left one and blood pH was 7.18 ± 0.06. Optic nerve was hyperemia. Started from the second day of therapy, significant change on visual acuity was on right (p = 0.004; p = 0.001, p = 0.001 Wilcoxon test ) and the left eye (p = 0.004; p = 0.002; p = 0.001; Wilcoxon test). No significant change in optic nerve was found. A significant visual acuity improvement is found after hemodialysis, methylprednisolone and prednisone therapy. The optic nerve is hiperemia, and bilateral simetric. Keyword : Methanol intoxication, toxic optic neuropathy, hemodialysis, methylprednisolone, prednisone,