Blue People of Kentucky
Blue People
Methemoglobinemia :
Under methemoglobinemia is understood in the medical field, increased levels of methemoglobin (MetHb) in blood. Located in the red blood cells available hemoglobin , the oxygen is used for transportation, is converted into the dysfunctional methemoglobin ( oxidized , see methemoglobin ) and is therefore no longer available for transporting oxygen.
The Blue People
Symptoms :
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Chronic methaemoglobinaemia run often clinically silent. In acutely occurring course it is early to headache, fatigue, shortness of breath and lethargy. As a Met-Hb concentration of greater than ten percent of total hemoglobin leads to the hypoxemia (oxygen deficiency in the blood) with cyanosis (blue discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes). The blood gets a slate-gray color. For over forty percent of it comes to dizziness , nausea , headache , rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath , and somnolence (drowsiness, somnolence). A concentration of more than 70 to 80 percent leads to death .
Causes :
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In addition to a hereditary defect in hemoglobin (hemoglobin M disease) or a hereditary enzyme defect ( cytochrome b5 reductase deficiency) is primarily the inclusion of certain substances that lead to oxidation of hemoglobin, the cause of the methemoglobinemia (toxic methemoglobinemia). To oxidizing substances include some drugs ( phenacetin , quinine , lidocaine , prilocaine , metoclopramide , nitroglycerin , sulfonamides , etc.), nitrogen oxides, aromatic nitro and amino compounds ( Popper , herbicides ) and others. For infants, there are dangers of drinking water or by eating vegetables with excessive nitrate levels .
Treatment :
Be discontinued if a toxic substance causing methemoglobinemia must. Where appropriate, methylene blue , toluidine blue or ascorbic acid may be administered. In hereditary causes no treatment is possible.
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