ABSTRACT
The paper presents the case of a female, 36, hospitalised in the Lublin Regional Center of Clinical Toxicology, diagnosed with heavy ethylene glycol intoxication. The patient suffered from metabolic acidosis with pH at 6.6, bases shortage - 35,5 mmol/l, renal failure, acute respiratory failure, symptoms of CNS damage such as prolonged coma, followed by dysphasia and the lower limbs paresis persisting for a few weeks. During the treatment, ethanol was used as a competitive inhibitor of alcoholic dehydrogenase along with hemodialyses, intensive symptomatic treatment, care and rehabilitation. In spite of the severe course of the intoxication, the procedures employed with the patient resulted turned out to be effective, with total renal failure regression, lower limb paresis regression, speech function regain and regular motor apparatus function regain and the regaining of speech and regular motor apparatus functions. The case description proves that intensive therapy might lead to recovery even in cases of extreme metabolic acidosis.