Which condition can be caused by drinking ethylene glycol?

Drinking ethylene glycol can lead to acute kidney injury. Ethylene glycol is metabolized by the liver into several toxic metabolites, including glycolic acid and oxalic acid, which can cause kidney damage. The acute injury is primarily due to the direct effects of these metabolites on the renal tubules and the formation of calcium oxalate crystals, leading to tubular obstruction and interstitial nephritis.

While nephrolithiasis, or kidney stones, can occur with the formation of calcium oxalate crystals, it is generally not a direct consequence of ethylene glycol ingestion, but rather a long-term complication. Acute kidney injury is the immediate and critical condition that arises from exposure to ethylene glycol, making it the most relevant choice in this context. Chronic renal failure could develop if acute kidney injury is not resolved, but it is not the initial outcome. Pyelonephritis refers to a bacterial infection of the kidneys, which is also not a direct result of ethylene glycol ingestion.