Methemoglobinemia

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Blood cells

Medications used to treat this disorder include:

• Methylene blue or 1 - 2 grams of ascorbic acid daily (to treat type 1 or 2 b5R deficiency) NOTE: Methylene blue may be dangerous in patients who have or may be at risk for an inherited blood disease called G6PD deficiency, and should not be used. 
• Cyanosis caused by hemoglobin M disease tends to be benign but does not respond to treatment.
• Cyanosis caused by exposure to an offending chemical is treated by avoiding that chemical, blood or exchange transfusion for a patient in shock, and repeated doses of IV methylene blue.

In acute exposure:

• Shock
• Seizures
• Death

Call your health care provider if there is a family history of methemoglobinemia and you develop symptoms of this disorder.

Call your health care provider or emergency services immediately if there is severe shortness of breath.

Review Date: 06/13/2005
Reviewed By: Thomas A. Owens, M.D., Departments of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.