Methemoglobin

Methemoglobin (English: methaemoglobin) (pronounced "met-hemoglobin") is a hemoglobin in the form of metalloprotein, in which the iron in the heme group is in the Fe3+ (ferric) state, not the Fe2+ (ferrous) of normal hemoglobin. Methemoglobin cannot bind oxygen, which means it cannot carry oxygen to tissues. It is bluish chocolate-brown in color. In human blood a trace amount of methemoglobin is normally produced spontaneously, but when present in excess the blood becomes abnormally dark bluish brown. The NADH-dependent enzyme methemoglobin reductase (a type of diaphorase) is responsible for converting methemoglobin back to hemoglobin.

The structure of the enzyme that converts methemoglobin to hemoglobin[1]

Normally one to two percent of a person's hemoglobin is methemoglobin; a higher percentage than this can be genetic or caused by exposure to various chemicals and depending on the level can cause health problems known as methemoglobinemia. A higher level of methemoglobin will tend to cause a pulse oximeter to read closer to 85% regardless of the true level of oxygen saturation. An abnormal increase of methemoglobin will increase the oxygen binding affinity of normal hemoglobin, resulting in a decreased unloading of oxygen to the tissues. [2]

Common causes of elevated methemoglobin


Therapeutic uses

Amyl nitrite is administered to treat cyanide poisoning. It works by converting hemoglobin to methemoglobin, which allows for the binding of cyanide and the formation of cyanomethemoglobin. The immediate goal of forming this cyanide adduct is to prevent the binding of free cyanide to the cytochrome a3 group in cytochrome c oxidase.[8]

Methemoglobin saturation
See also: Methemoglobinemia

Methemoglobin is expressed as a concentration or a percentage. Percentage of methemoglobin is calculated by dividing the concentration of methemoglobin by the concentration of total hemoglobin. Percentage of methemoglobin is likely a better indicator of illness severity than overall concentration, as underlying medical conditions play an important role. For example, a methemoglobin concentration of 1.5 g/dL may represent a percentage of 10% in an otherwise healthy patient with a baseline hemoglobin of 15 mg/dL, whereas the presence of the same concentration of 1.5 g/dL of methemoglobin in an anemic patient with a baseline hemoglobin of 8 g/dL would represent a percentage of 18.75%. The former patient will be left with a functional hemoglobin concentration of 13.5 g/dL and potentially remain asymptomatic while the latter patient with a functional hemoglobin concentration 6.5 g/dL may be severely symptomatic with a methemoglobin of less than 20%.[9]

This may be further compounded by the "functional hemoglobin's" decreased ability to release oxygen in the presence of methemoglobin. Anemia, congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and essentially any pathology that impairs the ability to deliver oxygen may worsen the symptoms of methemoglobinemia.[9]

Blood stains

Increased levels of methemoglobin are found in blood stains. Upon exiting the body, bloodstains transit from bright red to dark brown, which is attributed to oxidation of oxy-hemoglobin (HbO2) to methemoglobin (met-Hb) and hemichrome (HC).[10]

See also

References
  1. Bando, S.; Takano, T.; Yubisui, T.; Shirabe, K.; Takeshita, M.; Nakagawa, A. (2004). "Structure of human erythrocyte NADH-cytochromeb5reductase". Acta Crystallographica Section D. 60 (11): 1929–1934. doi:10.1107/S0907444904020645. PMID 15502298.
  2. Denshaw-Burke, Mary (2006-11-07). "Methemoglobinema". Archived from the original on 2008-04-11. Retrieved 2008-03-31.
  3. Manassaram, D. M.; Backer, L. C.; Messing, R.; Fleming, L. E.; Luke, B.; Monteilh, C. P. (2010). "Nitrates in drinking water and methemoglobin levels in pregnancy: A longitudinal study". Environmental Health. 9: 60. doi:10.1186/1476-069X-9-60. PMC 2967503. PMID 20946657.
  4. "Drug Safety and Availability - FDA Drug Safety Communication: Reports of a rare, but serious and potentially fatal adverse effect with the use of over-the-counter (OTC) benzocaine gels and liquids applied to the gums or mouth". Archived from the original on 2012-04-19. Retrieved 2012-04-12.
  5. Dela Cruz, Maricel; Glick, Joshua; Merker, Seth H.; Vearrier, David (11 May 2018). "Survival after severe methemoglobinemia secondary to sodium nitrate ingestion". Toxicology Communications. 2: 21–23. doi:10.1080/24734306.2018.1467532.
  6. "Genetics Solves Blue-Tinged Mystery". 2012-02-22. Archived from the original on 2012-03-18. Retrieved 2012-03-21.
  7. Dowers, Kirsty (2011-08-01). "Don't eat that! Toxicities in cats (Proceedings)". Archived from the original on 2015-09-05. Retrieved 2018-11-02.
  8. Vale, J. A. (2001). "Cyanide Antidotes: from Amyl Nitrite to Hydroxocobalamin - Which Antidote is Best?". Toxicology. 168 (1): 37–38.
  9. Wilkerson, Richard G.; Nappe, Thomas M. (2019-05-05). This source from PubMed is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License. says in the Copyright and License information section of the source. . "Methemoglobinemia". NCBI Bookshelf. PMID 30726002. Retrieved 2019-05-10.
  10. Bremmer et al PLoS ONE 2011 http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0021845 Archived 2014-03-26 at the Wayback Machine
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