BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuAlcoholic ketoacidosisKetoacidosis - alcoholic; Alcohol use - alcoholic ketoacidosisAlcoholic ketoacidosis is the buildup of ketones in the blood due to alcohol use. Ketones are a type of acid that form when the body breaks down fat for energy.The condition is an acute form of metabolic acidosis, a condition in which there is too much acid in body fluids.AcuteAcute means sudden. Acute symptoms appear, change, or worsen rapidly. It is the opposite of chronic.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Metabolic acidosisMetabolic acidosis is a condition in which there is too much acid in the body fluids.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Causes Alcoholic ketoacidosis is caused by very heavy alcohol use. It most often occurs in a malnourished person who drinks large amounts of alcohol every day.MalnourishedMalnutrition is the condition that occurs when your body does not get enough nutrients.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Symptoms Symptoms of alcoholic ketoacidosis include:Nausea and vomiting Abdominal pain Agitation, confusion AgitationAgitation is an unpleasant state of extreme arousal. An agitated person may feel stirred up, excited, tense, confused, or irritable.Read Article Now Book Mark Article ConfusionConfusion is the inability to think as clearly or quickly as you normally do. You may feel disoriented and have difficulty paying attention, remembe...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Changed level of alertness, which may lead to coma Fatigue, slow movements FatigueFatigue is a feeling of weariness, tiredness, or lack of energy.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Deep, labored, rapid breathing Rapid breathingHyperventilation is rapid and deep breathing. It is also called overbreathing, and it may leave you feeling breathless.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Loss of appetite Symptoms of dehydration, such as dizziness, lightheadedness, and thirstDehydrationDehydration occurs when your body does not have as much water and fluids as it needs. Dehydration can be mild, moderate, or severe, based on how much...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Exams and Tests Tests may include:Arterial blood gases (measures the acid/base balance and oxygen level in blood) Blood gasesBlood gases are a measurement of how much oxygen and carbon dioxide are in your blood. They also determine the acidity (pH) of your blood.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Blood alcohol level Blood chemistries and liver function tests CBC (complete blood count), measures red and white blood cells, and platelets, which help blood to clot Prothrombin time (PT), measures blood clotting, often abnormal from liver disease Toxicology study (checking for other poisons in your body) Urine ketonesUrine ketonesA ketone urine test measures the amount of ketones in the urine.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment Treatment may involve fluids (salt and sugar solution) given through a vein. You may need to have frequent blood tests. You may get vitamin supplements to treat malnutrition caused by excessive alcohol use.People with this condition are usually admitted to the hospital, often to the intensive care unit (ICU). Alcohol use is stopped to help recovery. Medicines may be given to prevent alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Alcohol withdrawalAlcohol withdrawal refers to symptoms that may occur when a person who has been drinking too much alcohol on a regular basis suddenly stops drinking ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Outlook (Prognosis) Prompt medical attention improves the overall outlook. How severe the alcohol use is, and the presence of liver disease or other problems, may also affect the outlook. Possible Complications This can be a life-threatening condition. Complications may include:Coma and seizures Gastrointestinal bleeding Gastrointestinal bleedingGastrointestinal (GI) bleeding refers to any bleeding that starts in the gastrointestinal tract. Bleeding may come from any site along the GI tract, ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Inflamed pancreas (pancreatitis) Inflamed pancreasAcute pancreatitis is sudden swelling and inflammation of the pancreas.Read Article Now Book Mark Article PneumoniaPneumoniaPneumonia is a breathing (respiratory) condition in which there is an infection of the lung. This article covers community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article When to Contact a Medical Professional If you or someone else has symptoms of alcoholic ketoacidosis, seek emergency medical help. Prevention Limiting the amount of alcohol you drink will help prevent this condition.Open ReferencesReferencesFinnell JT. Alcohol-related disease. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 137.O'Connor PG. Alcohol use disorders. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 30.AllVideoImagesTog Tests for Alcoholic ketoacidosis Ketones blood testRelated Information Alcohol use and safe drinking(Special Topic) Review Date: 6/12/2023 Reviewed By: Jacob Berman, MD, MPH, Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. 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Alcoholic ketoacidosisKetoacidosis - alcoholic; Alcohol use - alcoholic ketoacidosisAlcoholic ketoacidosis is the buildup of ketones in the blood due to alcohol use. Ketones are a type of acid that form when the body breaks down fat for energy.The condition is an acute form of metabolic acidosis, a condition in which there is too much acid in body fluids.AcuteAcute means sudden. Acute symptoms appear, change, or worsen rapidly. It is the opposite of chronic.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Metabolic acidosisMetabolic acidosis is a condition in which there is too much acid in the body fluids.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Causes Alcoholic ketoacidosis is caused by very heavy alcohol use. It most often occurs in a malnourished person who drinks large amounts of alcohol every day.MalnourishedMalnutrition is the condition that occurs when your body does not get enough nutrients.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Symptoms Symptoms of alcoholic ketoacidosis include:Nausea and vomiting Abdominal pain Agitation, confusion AgitationAgitation is an unpleasant state of extreme arousal. An agitated person may feel stirred up, excited, tense, confused, or irritable.Read Article Now Book Mark Article ConfusionConfusion is the inability to think as clearly or quickly as you normally do. You may feel disoriented and have difficulty paying attention, remembe...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Changed level of alertness, which may lead to coma Fatigue, slow movements FatigueFatigue is a feeling of weariness, tiredness, or lack of energy.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Deep, labored, rapid breathing Rapid breathingHyperventilation is rapid and deep breathing. It is also called overbreathing, and it may leave you feeling breathless.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Loss of appetite Symptoms of dehydration, such as dizziness, lightheadedness, and thirstDehydrationDehydration occurs when your body does not have as much water and fluids as it needs. Dehydration can be mild, moderate, or severe, based on how much...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Exams and Tests Tests may include:Arterial blood gases (measures the acid/base balance and oxygen level in blood) Blood gasesBlood gases are a measurement of how much oxygen and carbon dioxide are in your blood. They also determine the acidity (pH) of your blood.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Blood alcohol level Blood chemistries and liver function tests CBC (complete blood count), measures red and white blood cells, and platelets, which help blood to clot Prothrombin time (PT), measures blood clotting, often abnormal from liver disease Toxicology study (checking for other poisons in your body) Urine ketonesUrine ketonesA ketone urine test measures the amount of ketones in the urine.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment Treatment may involve fluids (salt and sugar solution) given through a vein. You may need to have frequent blood tests. You may get vitamin supplements to treat malnutrition caused by excessive alcohol use.People with this condition are usually admitted to the hospital, often to the intensive care unit (ICU). Alcohol use is stopped to help recovery. Medicines may be given to prevent alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Alcohol withdrawalAlcohol withdrawal refers to symptoms that may occur when a person who has been drinking too much alcohol on a regular basis suddenly stops drinking ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Outlook (Prognosis) Prompt medical attention improves the overall outlook. How severe the alcohol use is, and the presence of liver disease or other problems, may also affect the outlook. Possible Complications This can be a life-threatening condition. Complications may include:Coma and seizures Gastrointestinal bleeding Gastrointestinal bleedingGastrointestinal (GI) bleeding refers to any bleeding that starts in the gastrointestinal tract. Bleeding may come from any site along the GI tract, ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Inflamed pancreas (pancreatitis) Inflamed pancreasAcute pancreatitis is sudden swelling and inflammation of the pancreas.Read Article Now Book Mark Article PneumoniaPneumoniaPneumonia is a breathing (respiratory) condition in which there is an infection of the lung. This article covers community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article When to Contact a Medical Professional If you or someone else has symptoms of alcoholic ketoacidosis, seek emergency medical help. Prevention Limiting the amount of alcohol you drink will help prevent this condition.Open ReferencesReferencesFinnell JT. Alcohol-related disease. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 137.O'Connor PG. Alcohol use disorders. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 30.