Methemoglobinemia
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}} Methemoglobinemia, also known as "met-H", is a usually genetic blood disorder characterized by the presence of a higher than normal level of methemoglobin in the blood.
Contents |
Types
Congenital methaemoglobinaemia (Template:ICD10)
Due to an enzyme deficiency, the blood of met-H victims has reduced oxygen-carrying capacity. Instead of being red in colour, the arterial blood of met-H victims is brown. This results in the skin of Caucasian sufferers gaining a bluish cast. Hereditary met-H is caused by a recessive gene. If only one parent has this gene offspring will have normal-hued skin, but if both parents carry the gene there is a chance the offspring will have blue-hued skin.
Types include:
Acquired/Toxic methaemoglobinaemia (Template:ICD10)
Acquired methemoglobinemia can be caused by the use of nitrite-containing drugs, such as amyl nitrite. Nitrates do not cause methemoglobinemia.
It can be caused by drinking water nitrate-nitrogen levels that exceed current EPA standards of 10ppm. Nitrate can cause the reaction in the bloodstream, especially in babies.
Treatment
Methemoglobinemia is treated with the use of methylene blue, which restores the hemoglobin to its normal oxygen-carrying state.
Well-known victims
The Blue Fugates of Appalachia is an extended family from the Appalachian Mountains, historically described as blue, and believed to be positive for met-H. Some people with a partial form of this disorder turn bluish when temperature drops. Some are born blue, but turn normal within a few minutes.