High carboxyhemoglobin level without acute or chronic findings.
The clinical effects of carbon monoxide in humans have been well studied and described. Carboxyhemoglobin levels usually correlate with the degree of symptomatology; however, some investigators have noted that there may be a wide disparity between absolute carboxyhemoglobin levels and clinical status. A case is reported here of a young man with a potentially lethal level of carbon monoxide who developed neither significant symptomatology nor long-term sequelae. Until a more sensitive indicator of clinical outcome is found, clinicians must rely on carboxyhemoglobin levels and clinical history and examination to make treatment decisions, realizing that clinical presentation and absolute carboxyhemoglobin levels may correlate poorly.
D000328:Adult; D002249:Carbon Monoxide Poisoning / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D002263:Carboxyhemoglobin / Q000032:analysis*; D004630:Emergencies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male
D002263:Carboxyhemoglobin