Sulfhemoglobinemia

Last update 08 May 2025

Basic Info

Synonyms

SULFHAEMOGLOBINAEMIA, SULFHEMOGLOBINEMIA, Sulfhaemoglobinaemia

+ [13]

Introduction

A morbid condition due to the presence of sulfmethemoglobin in the blood. It is marked by persistent cyanosis, but the blood count does not reveal any special abnormality in the blood. It is thought to be caused by the action of hydrogen sulfide absorbed from the intestine. (Stedman, 25th ed)

100 Clinical Results associated with Sulfhemoglobinemia

100 Translational Medicine associated with Sulfhemoglobinemia

0 Patents (Medical) associated with Sulfhemoglobinemia

Literatures (Medical) associated with Sulfhemoglobinemia

25 Jun 2023·Cureus

Sulfhemoglobinemia in a 53-Year-Old With a History of Phenazopyridine Misuse

Author: Soderstrom, Matthew ; Hamidi, Zachariah S ; Foster, Daniel V ; Anderson, Jess T

Sulfhemoglobin is formed by the irreversible bonding of sulfur atoms to the heme molecule. Oxygen is then unable to bind the heme molecule, rendering the hemoglobin molecule unable to carry oxygen. The most common etiology of sulfhemoglobinemia is the use/misuse of sulfur-containing medications such as AZO. Unlike methemoglobin, sulfhemoglobin, due to its irreversible binding, has no antidote, and the treatment is ultimately supportive. We present a case of a 53-year-old female who presented to the emergency room endorsing dysuria and was noted to have abnormally low oxygen saturation (SpO2) despite having high arterial oxygen pressure (PaO2) on blood gas. History was significant for dysuria developed while traveling and the use of over-the-counter AZO four times daily for the past 10 days. She was diagnosed with a presumed dyshemoglobinemia and, upon return of send-out labs, was confirmed to have sulfhemoglobinemia attributed to phenazopyridine. This case highlights the importance of the recognition of potential dyshemoglobinemias and consideration of sulfhemoglobinemia as a potential causative etiology, especially in patients taking sulfur-containing medications.

01 Jan 2023·Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Molecular Cell Research

Sulfhemoglobin under the spotlight – Detection and characterization of SHb and HbFeIII–SH

Article

Author: Rutkowska, Wiktoria ; Marzec, Katarzyna Maria ; Zając, Grzegorz ; Dybas, Jakub ; Stepanenko, Tetiana ; Górecki, Andrzej ; Czajkowski, Artur

Sulfhemoglobinemia is an incurable disease caused by an overdose of sulfur-containing drugs with oxidizing properties. Its diagnosis remains hindered due to the similarity of symptoms to other pathological state - methemoglobinemia, as well as contradictory information on the structure and characteristics of sulfhemoglobin. Herein, we present sulfhemoglobinemia model on living functional human erythrocytes, designed to recreate processes which could take place in a patient body in order to complement missing information and highlight distinctiveness of two hemoglobin (Hb) adducts formed after interaction with sulfur donors. Employed techniques, UV-Vis absorption, Raman, Fourier transformed infrared (FT-IR) and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectroscopies, allowed to distinguish and characterize Hb adduct with sulfur atom bounded directly to the iron ion (HbFe^III-SH), and irreversibly connected to the porphyrin ring (SHb - sulfhemoglobin). Presented herein results provided also new evidence on formation of both these hemoglobin adducts inside functional erythrocytes under oxidative conditions and during sulfur-containing drug presence, what can be further translated into future physiological studies. Moreover, we found that sulfur attachment to the porphyrin ring altered Hb structure and lead to changes in protein packing inside RBCs, eventually. Interestingly, measurement of blood drop smear by Raman spectroscopy occurred the most accurate method to differentiate HbFe^III-SH and SHb, indicating potential of this technique in sulfhemoglobinemia diagnosis.

01 Oct 2022·Revista medica de Chile

[Sulfhemoglobinemia secondary to the use of zopiclone. Report of two cases].

Article

Author: Sánchez, Bárbara ; Benavente, Rafael ; Torres, Sebastián ; Meneses, Rodrigo ; Pineda, Camila ; Peña, Camila ; Aguirre, Herman ; Parada, Natalia

Sulfhemoglobin (SulfHb) is formed by hemoglobin (Hb) oxidation by sulfur compounds. Sulfhemoglobinemia is mainly associated with drugs or intestinal bacterial overgrowth. Patients present with central cyanosis, an abnormal pulse oximetry and normal arterial oxygen partial pressure. These features are shared with methemoglobinemia (MetHb) whose diagnosis requires an arterial co-oximetry. Depending on the device used, SulfHb may produce interference with this technique. We report two females aged 31 and 43 years, consulting at the emergency room with cyanosis. Both had a history of acute and chronic, high dose zopiclone ingestion. Pulse oximetry showed desaturation but with normal arterial oxygen partial pressure. Cardiac and pulmonary diseases were ruled out. Co-oximetry in two different analyzers showed interference or normal MetHb percentages. No other complications ensued, and cyanosis decreased over days. Since MetHb was discarded among other causes of cyanosis in a compatible clinical context, the diagnosis of sulfhemoglobinemia was made. The confirmatory method is not available in Chile. The presence of SulfHb is difficult to diagnose, confirmatory tests are not readily available, and it frequently interferes with arterial co-oximetry. This is attributed to a similar absorbance peak of both pigments in arterial blood. Venous co-oximetry can be useful in this context. SulfHb is a self-limited condition in most cases, however it must be differentiated from methemoglobinemia to avoid inappropriate treatments like methylene blue.

Analysis

Perform a panoramic analysis of this field.

view full example data

AI Agents Built for Biopharma Breakthroughs

Accelerate discovery. Empower decisions. Transform outcomes.

Get started for free today!

Accelerate Strategic R&D decision making with Synapse, PatSnap’s AI-powered Connected Innovation Intelligence Platform Built for Life Sciences Professionals.

Start your data trial now!

Synapse data is also accessible to external entities via APIs or data packages. Empower better decisions with the latest in pharmaceutical intelligence.

Bio

Bio Sequences Search & Analysis

Chemical

Chemical Structures Search & Analysis

Sulfhemoglobinemia

Basic Info

Related

Analysis