SPECTROPHOTOMETRY OF FAIRLEY'S NEW BLOOD PIGMENT, METHEMALBUMIN

Abstract

In cases of acute hemolytic anemia occurring during sulfon-amide therapy (preceding paper), the patients'' sera contained, in addition to Hb and met-Hb, a 3d pigment having an absorption band about [lambda]623 m[mu], not dispersed with cyanide. Spectrophotometric studies excluded sulf-Hb, and indicated that this 3d pigment apparently was Fairley''s methemalbumin (MAlb). To determine the cone, of MAlb, this pigment was prepared and its absorption spectrum was measured with the Hardy recording spectrophotometer. Based upon Fe detns., preliminary values were obtained of its absorption coefficients from [lambda]400 to [lambda]700 m[mu]. The spectrum, in general, resembled that of met-Hb. The band of MAlb about [lambda]623 m[mu] resisted 5% cyanide which dispersed the met-Hb band at [lambda]634 m[mu]. Furthermore, this [lambda]623 m[mu] band resisted 3% H2O2 which dispersed the [lambda]620 m[mu], band of sulf-Hb. These differential reactions were illustrated in the Hardy spectrophotometer curves which also demonstrated the conversion in vitro of Hb to MAlb and the continuation in vitro of MAlb formation begun in vivo during acute hemolytic anemia in the course of sulfonamide therapy.