title: Acute methemoglobinemia following attempted suicide by Dapson.
abstract: This report describes the case of an otherwise healthy young adult female, with oral ingestion of 40 unknown tablets. Her clinical course included progressive bluish discoloration of lips and limbs, hemolysis and jaundice. A high PaO2 in the presence of cyanosis and dark blood lead to suspicion of methemoglobinemia. Laboratory results showed methemoglobin level to be 3.8 g/dL (38%). The etiology was traced to dapsone according to patient history; after 3 days it became evident that she had ingested 2 g dapsone in suicidal intent. The therapeutic and diagnostic approach in such patients is discussed. In conclusion, acute methemoglobinemia is an uncommon but potentially treatable disorder.
authors.affiliation: Poison Control Center, Loghman-Hakim Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Shaheed-Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Shahin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shadnia
authors.forename: Mojgan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rahimi
authors.forename: Mahsa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moeinsadat
authors.forename: Ghazal
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vesal
authors.forename: Mohadeseh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Donyavi
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abdollahi
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D001158:Arteries / Q000378:metabolism; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis; D003622:Dapsone / Q000506:poisoning*; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000502:physiology; D008708:Methemoglobinemia / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted
chemical_list: D003622:Dapsone