Fatal Methemoglobinemia from Butyl Nitrite Ingestion
Authors: ROBERT SHESSER, DOUGLAS DIXON, YORKE ALLEN, JOYCE MITCHELL, SOL EDELSTEIN
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1980)

Letters and Corrections1 January 1980Fatal Methemoglobinemia from Butyl Nitrite IngestionROBERT SHESSER, M.D., DOUGLAS DIXON, M.D., YORKE ALLEN, M.D., JOYCE MITCHELL, M.D., SOL EDELSTEIN, M.D.ROBERT SHESSER, M.D.Search for more papers by this author, DOUGLAS DIXON, M.D.Search for more papers by this author, YORKE ALLEN, M.D.Search for more papers by this author, JOYCE MITCHELL, M.D.Search for more papers by this author, SOL EDELSTEIN, M.D.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-92-1-131_2 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptTo the editor: Horne and colleagues (1) have reported a case of clinically apparent methemoglobinemia in a patient who was partially (NADH)-methemoglobin reductase deficient after inhaling an over-the-counter "room odorizer" preparation containing butyl nitrite. The reported patient complained only of a "grayish" hue and was otherwise asymptomatic. We have recently seen a fatal case that resulted from ingestion of such a preparation.A 30-year-old man was brought to our department by the police at 0200 h after being found lethargic on a park bench. He had been seen earlier at a discotheque with a brown bottle. At initial examination, the...References1. HORNEWATERMANSIMONGARRIOTTFOERSTER MMLJE. Methemoglobinemia from sniffing butyl nitrite. Ann Intern Med. 1979;91:417-8. LinkGoogle Scholar2. VANDENBELT J. Methemoglobinemia after administration of p-amino-acetophenone and p-aminopropiophenone. J Pharmocol Exp Ther. 1944;80:31-8. Google Scholar3. FINCH C. Methemoglobinemia and sulfhemoglobinemia. N Engl J Med. 1948;239:470-8. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: George Washington University School of Medicine Office of the D.C. Medical Examiner Washington, D.C. 20037 PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited BySexual enhancer–induced vision lossAmyl and Butyl NitritesSubstances volatilesMethemoglobinemiaInhalantsMéthémoglobinémie récidivante : rechercher la prise itérative de poppersMetabolic acidosis associated with volatile substance abuseMethaemoglobinaemia presenting with status epilepticus.Extreme methaemoglobinaemia secondary to recreational use of amyl nitrite.Other Agents: Phencyclidine, Marijuana, Hallucinogens, Inhalants, and AnticholinergicsVolatile substance abuse ∗Poisonings in laboratory personnel and health care professionalsMassive hemolysis following inhalation of volatile nitritesAmyl Nitrite Poppers and MethemoglobinemiaJ. P. LAABAN, M.D., P. BODENAN, M.D., J. ROCHEMAURE, M.D.Kinetics of amyl nitrite-induced hemoglobin oxidation in cord and adult bloodOrganic NitratesClinically significant methemoglobinemia from inhalation of isobutyl nitriteRECREATIONAL DRUGS: RELATIONSHIP TO AIDSPsychosexual Aspects of the Volatile NitritesHEINZ BODY HAEMOLYTIC ANAEMIA AFTER SNIFFING VOLATILE NITRITESMethaemoglobinaemiaDrug-Induced Oxidative HaemolysisBlush Not with NitritesCHARLES WILLIAM SHARP, PH.D., RICHARD C. STILLMAN, M.DButyl Nitrite and a Suicide AttemptMARK SMITH, M.D., THOMAS STAIR, M.D., MICHAEL A. ROLNICK, M.D. 1 January 1980Volume 92, Issue 1Page: 131-132KeywordsIngestionInhalationMethemoglobinemia Issue Published: 1 January 1980 PDF DownloadLoading ...