Carbon monoxide (CO) Poisoning
- Carbon monoxide has high affinity to bind with hemoglobin.
- This binding affinity as compared to oxygen is 200 times more.
- When it combines with Hemoglobin then give rise to Carboxyhemoglobin (Hb-CO.)
- Because of carbon monoxide (CO) binding then the sites for oxygen are not available.
- This has even more affinity for fetal hemoglobin.
- Carbon monoxide is directly toxic to intracellular oxidative process.
Clinical effects of Carbon monoxide poisoning
| Level of Carbon monoxide | Clinical effect on patient |
| 0.4 to 2% | This level is seen in normal nonsmoker |
| 2 to 6% | This level is seen in normal smoker |
| 10 to 20% | Patient will have mild symptoms like dyspnea on exertion |
| 20 to 50% | Symptoms are severe. There is intoxication with headache, lethargy and loss of consciousness |
| >50% | Patient will go into coma and ultimately death |