Methaemoglobin

From Free net encyclopedia

Methaemoglobin is a form of the oxygen-carrying protein haemoglobin (American English hemoglobin), in which the iron in the haem group is in the Fe3+ state, not the Fe2+ of normal haemoglobin. Methaeomglobin is unable to carry oxygen. The enzyme methaemoglobin reductase is responsible for converting methaemoglobin back to haemoglobin.

Normally 1-2% of people's haemoglobin is methaemoglobin, a higher percentage than this can be genetic or caused by exposure to various chemicals and depending on the level can cause health problems. A higher level of methaemoglobin will tend to cause a pulse oximeter to read closer to 85% regardless of the true level of oxygen saturation.

Methemoglobinaemia in infants

In children, this condition is known as blue-baby syndrome, attributed primarily to excessive nitrate intake from drinking water