Abstract
A case of fatal methemoglobinemia (MetHb-emia) which was presumably due to ingestion of nitrate is presented. An unidentified man was taken to a local emergency hospital suffering from deep cyanosis and 7 h later he was found dead in the hospital bed. The post-mortem examination of the blood revealed a methemoglobin (MetHb) concentration of 78% and the concentrations of nitrate and nitrite were 1.50 and 0.76 μg/mL, respectively. Capillary gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and capillary gas chromatography with a nitrogen-phosphorus detector (NPD) were used to detect nitrates and nitrites in the blood.
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Received: 27 August 1998 / Received in revised form: 19 March 1999
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Saito, T., Takeichi, S., Osawa, M. et al. A case of fatal methemoglobinemia of unknown origin but presumably due to ingestion of nitrate. Int J Leg Med 113, 164–167 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/s004140050290
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s004140050290