REVIEW

Alcoholic ketoacidosis

L C McGuire¹, A M Cruickshank² and P T Munro³

¹ Department of Accident and Emergency Medicine, Hairmyres Hospital, East Kilbride, UK
² Department of Biochemistry, Southern General Hospital, Glasgow, UK
³ Department of Accident and Emergency Medicine, Southern General Hospital, Glasgow, UK

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Dr L C McGuire
Consultant in Emergency Medicine, Accident and Emergency Department, Hairmyres Hospital, East Kilbride, UK; larry.mcguire{at}lanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk

Alcoholic ketoacidosis (AKA) is a common reason for investigation and admission of alcohol dependent patients in UK emergency departments. Although well described in international emergency medicine literature, UK emergency physicians rarely make the diagnosis of AKA. There is increasing evidence that rather than being benign and self limiting, AKA may be a significant cause of mortality in patients with alcohol dependence. This literature review discusses the history, characterisation, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of AKA.

Abbreviations: AcAc, acetoacetate; AKA, alcoholic ketoacidosis; BOHB, beta-hydroxybutyrate; ED, emergency department

Keywords: emergency department; alcoholic ketoacidosis; alcohol

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