COMPLICATIONS FOLLOWING INTRAVENOUS ADMINISTRATION OF SOLUTIONS CONTAINING XYLITOL

Abstract

Twenty-two patients who had received intravenous infusions of solutions containing xylitol were studied. Ten were thought to have developed a syndrome of adverse reactions produced by these solutions. This syndrome consisted of diuresis, oliguria and azotæmia, liver and cerebral disturbances, elevated serum uric acid levels and calcium oxalate crystal deposition. Most patients exhibited several of these adverse reactions, whereas only one person developed the complete syndrome. In a number of cases it was not possible to decide whether an adverse reaction had occurred because of the presence of preexisting disease. Five patients were considered not to have shown any adverse reactions.