• Isr. J. Med. Sci. · May 1992

    Case Reports

    Fatal methemoglobinemia caused by inadvertent contamination of a laxative solution with sodium nitrite.

    • M Ellis, Y Hiss, and L Shenkman.
    • Department of Medicine C, Sapir Medical Center (Meir Hospital), Kfar Saba, Israel.
    • Isr. J. Med. Sci. 1992 May 1; 28 (5): 289-91.

    AbstractWe describe two cases of fatal methemoglobinemia resulting from ingestion of laxative solution inadvertently contaminated with sodium nitrite. Postmortem toxicological examination revealed methemoglobin levels in excess of 75% in both patients--a level that is uniformly fatal. The laxative solution was found to contain sodium nitrite instead of sodium sulphate at a concentration of 15 g/l. The pathophysiology of methemoglobinemia and a review of other reported cases of toxic methemoglobinemia are presented. Marked cyanosis in the face of intact cardiorespiratory function should alert the physician to the possibility of toxic methemoglobinemia.

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