High urine ethanol and negative blood and vitreous ethanol in a diabetic woman: a case report, retrospective case survey, and review of the literature

Am J Forensic Med Pathol. 2005 Mar;26(1):96-8. doi: 10.1097/01.paf.0000154266.15884.84.

Abstract

Several studies have shown that ethanol can be produced in urine infected with yeast or bacteria in vitro. We present the unusual case of a diabetic woman in whom ethanol was produced in her urine in vivo. The decedent was a 19-year-old woman who was noncompliant with her diabetes treatment. She presented to a local hospital in severe diabetic ketoacidosis and died shortly thereafter. Upon arrival at the hospital, a blood glucose of 553 mg/dL was detected. A urinalysis was positive for ketones (> 80 mg/dL), glucose (> 1000 mg/dL), and large budding yeast forms. A drug screen performed on the urine was positive for ethanol. At the coroner/medical examiner office, an autopsy was negative for significant anatomic findings. Toxicology analysis revealed a urine ethanol level 0.32 g/dL, although no ethanol was detected in blood or vitreous samples. A urine gram stain and culture identified Candida glabrata. A retrospective case review of all deaths related to diabetes examined at the coroner/medical examiner office from 1986 to 2003 did not reveal other cases with similar findings. This case of a noncompliant, juvenile-diabetic woman illustrates a rare finding of apparent in vivo glucose fermentation by C. glabrata to form ethanol in the urine. This case also highlights a potential difficulty in toxicologic analysis and interpretation using urine only.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Alabama / epidemiology
  • Autopsy
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1*
  • Diabetic Ketoacidosis / blood
  • Diabetic Ketoacidosis / diagnosis*
  • Diabetic Ketoacidosis / epidemiology
  • Diabetic Ketoacidosis / metabolism
  • Diabetic Ketoacidosis / pathology
  • Diabetic Ketoacidosis / urine
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Ethanol / urine
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Medical Records
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Vitreous Body / metabolism
  • Yeasts / metabolism

Substances

  • Ethanol