RT Book, Section
A1 Williams, Saralyn R.
A1 Thurman, R. Jason
A2 Knoop, Kevin J.
A2 Stack, Lawrence B.
A2 Storrow, Alan B.
A2 Thurman, R. Jason
SR Print(0)
ID 1181056869
T1 Methemoglobinemia
T2 The Atlas of Emergency Medicine, 5e
YR 2021
FD 2021
PB McGraw-Hill
PP New York, NY
SN 9781260134940
LK accessemergencymedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1181056869
RD 2024/04/18
AB Methemoglobin  occurs  when  the  iron  in  deoxyhemoglobin  loses  an  electron,  resulting  in  a  ferric  (Fe3+)  ion  instead  of  the  usual  ferrous  (Fe2+)  state.  Ferric  iron  can  no  longer  bind  to  oxygen,  thereby  reducing  the  oxygen-carrying  capacity  of  hemoglobin.  The  presence  of  methemoglobin  also  shifts  the  oxygen  hemoglobin  dissociation  curve  to  the  left,  resulting  in  decreased  release  of  oxygen  to  tissues.  Infants  are  more  susceptible  to  the  development  of  methemoglobinemia.  Illnesses  in  infants  such  as  diarrhea,  dehydration,  and  acidosis  may  induce  methemoglobin  due  to  oxidant  stress.