RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Alcoholic ketoacidosis
JF Emergency Medicine Journal
JO Emerg Med J
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and the British Association for Accident & Emergency Medicine
SP 417
OP 420
DO 10.1136/emj.2004.017590
VO 23
IS 6
A1 L C McGuire
A1 A M Cruickshank
A1 P T Munro
YR 2006
UL http://emj.bmj.com/content/23/6/417.abstract
AB 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.