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Oxalate

المؤلف:  Sue Jickells , Adam Negrusz (Editors)

المصدر:  Clarkes Analytical Forensic Toxicology

الجزء والصفحة:  113

2026-09-24

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Oxalate

Oxalic acid and a number of its salts may be used as cleaning or bleaching agents and in the manufacture of explosives. Oxalic acid is also present in certain plants (e.g. rhubarb leaves), which can cause toxicity if ingested in error. Oxalate is also an important active metabolite in ethylene glycol poisoning and may appear in urine as calcium oxalate crystals. Signs and symptoms of oxalate ingestion include local tissue damage, shock, convulsions and renal damage. There may also be a marked fall in plasma calcium concentration that requires active treatment. Hyperoxaluria is caused by a genetically-induced enzyme deficiency and can lead to renal failure followed by oxalosis if not treated. Patients are advised to minimise intake of oxalates. Patients with hyperoxaluria may excrete much higher oxalate concentrations in urine. Reference values for plasma oxalate of up to 2.4 mg/L have been reported in healthy subjects. A plasma oxalate value of 3.7 mg/L has been seen in an individual who survived oxalate poisoning, but concentrations of between 18 and 100 mg/L were seen in three fatalities.