A case of fatal methemoglobinemia of unknown origin but presumably due to ingestion of nitrate.
A case of fatal methemoglobinemia (MetHb-emia) which was presumably due to ingestion of nitrate is presented. An unidentified man was taken to a local emergency hospital suffering from deep cyanosis and 7 h later he was found dead in the hospital bed. The post-mortem examination of the blood revealed a methemoglobin (MetHb) concentration of 78% and the concentrations of nitrate and nitrite were 1.50 and 0.76 microg/mL, respectively. Capillary gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and capillary gas chromatography with a nitrogen-phosphorus detector (NPD) were used to detect nitrates and nitrites in the blood.
Saito
T
T
Department of Forensic Medicine, Tokai University School of Medicine, Kanagawa, Japan.
Takeichi
S
S
Osawa
M
M
Yukawa
N
N
Huang
X L
XL
D000368:Aged; D001344:Autopsy / Q000379:methods*; D002423:Cause of Death; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D005750:Gastric Juice / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008708:Methemoglobinemia / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009566:Nitrates / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood / Q000506:poisoning*; D009573:Nitrites / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood / Q000506:poisoning*
D009566:Nitrates; D009573:Nitrites