Corresponding author: Takashi Hongo, taka.hogno123@gmail.com
DOI: 10.31662/jmaj.2023-0081
Received: May 23, 2023
Accepted: October 24, 2023
Advance Publication: December 11, 2023
Published: January 15, 2024
Cite this article as:
Hongo T, Yumoto T, Kosaki Y, Hiraoka T, Tsukahara K, Nojima T, Obara T, Ageta K, Yamasaki Y, Taniguchi K, Miura M, Miyaishi S, Naito H, Nakao A. Successful Cardiac, Lung, and Kidney Transplantation from a Methanol-poisoned Donor. JMA J. 2024;7(1):133-135.
Massive methanol exposure can lead to severe and detrimental effects that can result in death or brain death. As organs from patients with brain death after methanol ingestion are less likely to be recovered, these patients have been considered marginal donors. We present a case of successful multiple organ transplantation (heart, lungs, and kidneys) from a methanol-poisoned patient. Our experience illustrates that donor death from methanol intoxication does not preclude organ transplantation.
Key words: brain death, methanol, transplantation, donor
Methanol poisoning, while uncommon, can cause brain death and irreversible loss of neurological function (1). Given the global shortage of organ donors and the growing waiting lists for transplantation, investigations are required to increase available donor pools (2). Historically, patients succumbing to various types of poisoning were not considered acceptable for organ donation (3). However, accumulating evidence is surfacing in the literature regarding the use of organs from patients dying from intoxication by certain medicines, drugs, and industrial and domestic products as donors (4). They may represent 1% of all organ donors and comprise 1.1% of all organs transplanted (3), (5).
Herein, we report the successful outcome involving heart, lung, and kidney transplantation from a methanol-poisoned donor. Our case, as along with previous reports, indicated that methanol exposure is not an absolute contraindication for organ transplantation (5). This is the first case report of organ donation from a methanol-poisoned cadaveric donor in Japan.
A 35-year-old man was taken to our emergency department due to impaired consciousness. Upon arrival, his Glasgow Coma Scale score was 3 points (E1V1M1) with bilateral pupils dilated. His vital signs were as follows: blood pressure of 140/115 mmHg, heart rate of 136/min, respiratory rate of 26/min, and body temperature of 36.5°C. Blood gas analysis revealed severe metabolic acidosis with a pH of 6.821, lactate level of 11.2 mmol/L, and anion gap of 38.5 mmol/L. His measured and calculated serum osmolality was 389 and 313 mOsmol/kg, respectively. Computed tomography demonstrated pancreatolithiasis and chronic alcoholic changes without ascites. His family and colleagues testified that the patient drank hidden alcohol-based hand sanitizers containing 58% methanol. Moreover, the family stated that the patient had a chronic habit of consuming alcohol and sometimes exhibited alcohol-seeking behaviors. At the time of admission, the blood concentration of methanol was 3,942 μg/ml, which was considered lethal (Figure 1). Based on the examination results and the episode of methanol ingestion, a clinical diagnosis of metabolic acidosis due to methanol intoxication was made. Hemodialysis for methanol/formic acid elimination and oral fomepizole administration were initiated in addition to supportive therapy, including the infusion of sodium bicarbonate solution. Sequential measurement of blood methanol showed a gradual decrease in methanol at 24 h and achieved a plasma methanol concentration of zero at 96 h.
Despite aggressive intervention, neurological examination revealed a flat electroencephalogram and an absent auditory brainstem response at 177 h after methanol ingestion. Based on the evidence of brain death, the possibility of organ donation was discussed, as metabolic disorders were corrected and methanol had disappeared from the blood (Figure 1). After obtaining family consent for organ donation, the heart, kidneys, and lungs were retrieved. Procurement of the liver and pancreas was refused by the patient’s family. During the procurement procedure, all organs were certified to have a normal appearance. All recipients uneventfully recovered during the 3-month follow-up period.
The primary concern lies in insufficient knowledge regarding the organ-specific toxicity of methanol, resulting in premature exclusion of organs for procurement. Concerns may exist regarding whether the organs of the donor subjected to extraction for transplantation contain the toxic byproducts of methanol, causing intoxication in the recipients of these grafts. In autopsy cases of methanol poisoning, high concentrations of methanol and its toxic metabolites have been found in the kidney, liver, and gastrointestinal tract (6). However, methanol is not listed as a drug with significant organ concentrations on which the reservoir effect may occur after implantation into the recipients (4). Although this carryover could be particularly important with liposoluble drugs and toxins that accumulate preferably in the organs subject to transplantation, previous literature has demonstrated that methanol is not transferred from the donor to the recipient (3).
In our review of the literature from the past 20 years, we found that 49 kidneys, 1 heart, 1 liver, 1 lung, and 2 corneal transplants were performed. Most of them indicated favorable long-term graft function and recipient survival (Table 1) (7), (8), (9), (10), (11), (12), (13), (14), (15). Although available data including the follow-up period are limited, it is most likely that the survival of organ grafts procured from donors who died due to methanol does not differ in the short- and long-term from transplants performed with organs from donors who died from other causes (16).
Table 1. Organ Transplantation from Methanol-Poisoned Donors in the Medical Literature.
| Author | Year | Number of donors | transplanted organs | Follow-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stoiber L, et al (7) | 2021 | 1 | 1 heart | Alive at 32 months after transplantation with normal cardiac function. |
| Zomorrodi A, et al (8) | 2020 | 1 | 2 kidneys | Alive at 3 weeks after transplantation with normal renal function. |
| Sklienka P, et al (9) | 2014 | 3 | 6 kidneys | Of 3 patients, 2 were alive at 3 months posttransplantation with normal renal function, and 1 was alive at 4 months with graft dysfunction. |
| Gunka I, et al (10) | 2013 | 6 | 12 kidneys | Of 6 patients, 1 died and 1 experienced graft dysfunction. |
| Klimaszyk D, et al (11) | 2013 | 1 | 2 corneal | Not available |
| Kolaciński Z, et al (12) | 2013 | 13 | 24 kidneys | All patients were alive at 18 months after transplantation with normal renal function. |
| Silva JA et al (13) | 2004 | 1 | 1 lung and 1 kidney | Not available |
| Duque E, et al (14) | 2004 | 1 | 2 kidneys | Not available |
| Zota V, et al (15) | 2003 | 1 | 1liver and 2 kidneys | Alive at 5 months after transplantation with normal renal and hepatic function. |
Medical professionals belonging to transplantation centers should discuss this in collaboration with clinical toxicologists and collect more information on the referred poisoned patients who are not accepted as suitable donor candidates.
Our experience, along with previous reports, demonstrated that a methanol-poisoned donor is not a contraindication for organ transplantation.
None
We thank Christine Burr for editing the manuscript.
All authors meet the ICMJE authorship criteria.
YY, KT, MM, and SM: acquisition, analysis, and interpretation of data; YK, TH, KT, TN, TO, and KA: in charge of the patient in our hospital; TH, TY, HN, and AN: conception and design of the study, analysis, and interpretation of data, and drafting or revision of the manuscript. The other authors have made substantial revisions and edits. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.
Not applicable.
Written informed consent was obtained from the patient’s family.
Not applicable.
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