Medical Health Encyclopedia

Hemoglobin derivatives

Carboxyhemoglobin is hemoglobin bound to carbon monoxide instead of oxygen or carbon dioxide. Carbon monoxide has a much higher affinity for hemoglobin than does oxygen (210 times more), and high percentages of carboxyhemoglobin in the blood impairs the normal transport of oxygen by the blood.

Sulfhemoglobin results from the union of hemoglobin with medications such as phenacetin or sulfonamides. This form of hemoglobin is unable to transport oxygen, and this condition is untreatable. The only solution is to wait until the affected red blood cells are destroyed as part of their normal life cycle.

Methemoglobin occurs when the iron that is part of hemoglobin is altered so that it does not carry oxygen well. Certain compounds introduced into the blood stream can cause this problem:

• Sulfonamides
• Chlorates
• Nitrates
• Nitrites
• Aniline
• Phenacetin

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There is also a congenital form of this disorder caused by a deficiency of NADH cytochrome b5 reductase, and another form caused by hemoglobin M disease.

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