|
Methemoglobinemia, also known as "met-H", is a (usually)genetic blood disorder or disease.
Due to an enzyme deficiency, the blood of met-H victims has reduced oxygen-carrying capacity. Instead of being red in colour, the arterial blood of met-H victims is brown. This results in the skin of Caucasian sufferers gaining a bluish cast. Hereditary met-H is caused by a recessive gene. If only one of parent has this gene, the offspring will have normal hued skin, but if they both have the disorder, there a good chance the offspring will have blue-hued skin.
Attacks of methemoglobinemia, even in individuals who lack the disease, can be caused by the use of nitrate-containing drugs, such as nitroglycerin.
External links
|
