Coma and Hyperglycemia Following Drinking of Acetone

A patient with coma due to drinking of acetone is described. Recovery was followed by hyperglycemia and decreased carbohydrate tolerance persisting for four months. A similar course, although not so prolonged, has been recorded by other authors in poisoning due to inhalation of acetone vapor. Possible mechanisms by which acetone poisoning might affect carbohydrate metabolism are briefly discussed.