Indian Journal of Critical Care Case Report

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VOLUME 3 , ISSUE 6 ( November-December, 2024 ) > List of Articles

CASE REPORT

Critically Ill Patient with Acquired Refractory Methemoglobinemia Successfully Treated with Therapeutic Erythrocytapheresis: A Case Report

Abhishek Chintamani, Madhusudhan R Raju

Keywords : Case report, Critically ill, Erythrocytapheresis, Methylene blue, Methemoglobinemia

Citation Information : Chintamani A, Raju MR. Critically Ill Patient with Acquired Refractory Methemoglobinemia Successfully Treated with Therapeutic Erythrocytapheresis: A Case Report. 2024; 3 (6):159-160.

DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-11006-0135

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

Published Online: 19-10-2024

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2024; The Author(s).


Abstract

Aim and background: Acquired methemoglobinemia is a disorder of altered hemoglobin which leads to impaired oxygen delivery to tissues. It can occur after exposure to certain oxidizing agents. Acquired methemoglobinemia is diagnosed by using pulse oximetry and arterial blood gas analysis with co-oximetry. Most of the cases respond to methylene blue therapy. Case description: Here, we present a case of 21-year-old male patient presented to emergency department with alleged history of consumption of unknown quantity of biopesticide and developed severe refractory methemoglobinemia which did not respond to methylene blue, but was successfully treated with therapeutic erythrocytapheresis. Conclusion: Based on our case, therapeutic erythrocytapheresis is a potentially effective and safe treatment for critically ill patients with acquired refractory methemoglobinemia. Further research is required to evaluate the efficacy and safety of this modality. Clinical significance: Methemoglobinemia not improving with methylene blue therapy can be seen in some patients. Erythrocytapheresis can be used for therapy in such cases.


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