Sulfhemoglobin

 Sulfhemoglobin: 

 

 What is SulfHb?
SulfHb is a rare complication of exposure of heme groups to sulfur.  A rare abnormal form of hemoglobin that can't carry oxygen. It causes the irreversible bonding of sulfur to the heme moiety, with resultant cyanosis as SulfHb does not bind oxygen. The clinical presentation is similar to that of MetHb, but it does not respond to treatment with methylene blue or ascorbic acid. It may result from certain medicines such as dapsone, metoclopramide, nitrates or sulfonamides.

 

 

 How do you get sulfhemoglobinemia ?

Sulfhemoglobinemia is caused by excessive exposure to sulphur-containing compounds, like medications that contain sulfonamides (such as sumatriptan or furosemide), nitrate fertilizer, or the overconsumption of nitrogenous vegetables like spinach (usually only in infants)