Question 5 A 27-year-old male is brought to A&E on a Saturd…
Question 5 A 27-year-old male is brought to A&E on a Saturday afternoon in an incoherent state. Laboratory data from this patient reveals a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of 0.25%. Use this information and the patient’s serum data below to discuss the biochemical effects of alcohol toxicity (50%). Evaluate methods of analysis for alcohol toxicity and other drugs of abuse (50%). Sodium (Na+): 135 mEq/L (Reference Range: 135 – 145 mEq/L) Potassium (K+): 3.2 mEq/L (Reference Range: 3.5 – 5.0 mEq/L) Chloride (Cl-): 95 mEq/L (Reference Range: 98 – 106 mEq/L) Bicarbonate (HCO3-): 18 mEq/L (Reference Range: 22 – 26 mEq/L) Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST): 180 IU/L (Reference Range: 5 – 40 IU/L) Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT): 200 IU/L (Reference Range: 7 – 56 IU/L) Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN): 8.1 mmol/L (Reference Range: 2.5 – 6.6 mmol/L) Creatinine: 1.8 mg/dL (Reference Range: 0.6 – 1.2 mg/dL) Blood glucose: 3.2 mmol/L (Reference Range: 3.9 – 5.6 mmol/L) Serum Osmolality: 326 mmol/Kg (Reference Range: 280 – 290 mmol/Kg)