Acute bilateral toxic endothelitis in binge alcohol consumption – A case series

Abstract

Endothelitis has a vast range of etiologies, including infective, chemical-induced, drug-induced, systemic, and toxic causes. Toxic endothelitis secondary to alcohol binge consumption is rare and is reported less frequently in the literature. We report a series of three cases with bilateral defective vision due to corneal edema and endothelitis following binge alcohol consumption. All cases showed dramatic improvement with frequent topical steroid application alone. We hypothesize the cause for corneal edema as transient suppression of corneal endothelial cell metabolism rather than apoptosis, with later regain of functions following alcohol cessation and control of further inflammatory insults with intensive steroids.