title: Methaemoglobinaemia due to accidental sodium nitrite poisoning. Report of 10 cases.
abstract: Nitrates and nitrites are widely used in the food and chemical industry. Poisoning with these agents may be potentially life-threatening as a result of the production of methaemoglobin. A group of 10 patients suffering from moderate to severe methaemoglobinaemia after accidental intoxication with a sodium nitrite salt is described. One patient died but the other 9 recovered rapidly. The low mortality rate was attributed to prompt diagnosis and institution of appropriate therapy with methylene blue and ascorbic acid.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Hillbrow Hospital, Johannesburg.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kaplan
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Promnitz
authors.forename: B I
authors.initials: BI
authors.lastname: Joffe
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Seftel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008708:Methemoglobinemia / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009573:Nitrites / Q000506:poisoning*; D012977:Sodium Nitrite / Q000506:poisoning*
chemical_list: D009573:Nitrites; D012977:Sodium Nitrite