Methemoglobinemia and Sulfhemoglobinemia

Abstract

THE appearance of severe cyanosis may alarm the patient and presents a diagnostic problem to the attending physician. Recognition of the cause of the cyanosis and the specific blood pigment involved permits the separation of conditions connoting serious underlying disease from those of benign origin. An increased amount of reduced hemoglobin in cardiac or pulmonary disease is frequently responsible for mild cyanosis. The more intense degrees of cyanosis seen clinically are due to abnormal pigments within the red cell — methemoglobin and sulfhemoglobin. The relative capacity of each of these pigments to produce cyanosis is shown by the fact that . . .