Sulfhemoglobinemia

Sulfhemoglobinemia is a rare condition in which there is excess sulfhemoglobin (SulfHb) in the blood. The pigment is a greenish derivative of hemoglobin which cannot be converted back to normal, functional hemoglobin. It causes cyanosis even at low blood levels.
It is a rare blood condition in which the hemoglobin molecule has the ability to bind irreversibly to any substance containing a sulfur atom. When hydrogen sulfide (H2S) (or sulfide ions) and ferric ions combine in the blood, the blood is incapable of carrying oxygen.
Presentation.
Symptoms include a blueish or greenish coloration of the blood, skin, and mucous membranes, even though a blood count test may not show any abnormalities in the blood.
This discoloration is called cyanosis, and is caused by greater than 5 grams per cent of deoxyhemoglobin, or 1.5 grams per cent of methemoglobin, or 0.5 grams per cent of sulfhemoglobin, all serious medical abnormalities.
Causes.
This can be caused by taking medications that contain sulfonamides under certain conditions (i.e., overdosing of sumatriptan). Sulfhemoglobinemia is usually drug induced, with drugs associated with it including sulphonamides such as sulfasalazine. Another possible cause is occupational exposure to sulfur compounds.
It can also be caused by phenazopyridine.
Treatment.
The condition generally resolves itself with erythrocyte (red blood cell) turnover, although blood transfusions can be necessary in extreme cases.
Notable cases.
On June 8, 2007, Canadian anesthesiologists Dr. Stephan Schwarz, Dr. Giuseppe Del Vicario, and Dr. Alana Flexman presented an unusual case in "The Lancet". A 42-year-old male patient was brought into Vancouver's St. Paul's Hospital after falling asleep in a kneeling position, which caused compartment syndrome and a buildup of pressure in his legs. When doctors drew the man's blood prior to performing the surgery to relieve the pressure from the man's legs, they noted his blood was green. A sample of the blood was immediately sent to a lab. In this case, sulfhemoglobinemia was possibly caused by the patient taking higher-than-prescribed doses of sumatriptan.