Carboxyhemoglobin (CO-Hb), Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning

Sample
- Collect the venous blood immediately when CO poisoning is suspected.
- Heparinized arterial or venous blood for spectrophotometric methodology.
- Because CO is rapidly cleared from the hemoglobin when the patient is exposed to fresh air.
- Whole blood in heparin is stable >4 months infilled well-caped bottle.
- Blood in EDTA anticoagulant is stable at room temperature for more than one week.
Precautions
- Don’t use oxalate for the blood sample.
- Collect the blood sample before oxygen therapy is started.
- O2 saturation and oximetry are inaccurate in the CO-poisoning because it measures all forms of O2 – saturated hemoglobin and CO-Hb.
Purpose of the test (Indications)
- This test is done to detect carbon monoxide poisoning.
- It is prescribed in patients who are exposed to smoke inhalation, exhaust fumes, and fires.
Pathophysiology
Definition:
- CO is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas, undetectable unless it is mixed with the visible or odorous pollutant.
- It is produced by the incomplete combustion of such fuels as gasoline.
- CO binds more tightly with hemoglobin than O2. It displaces the O2 and causes hypoxia.
- CO is a chemical agent, which produces hypoxic injury due to O2 deprivation.
CO Poisoning:
- CO is produced in the environment where there is partial combustion of Carbon-containing fossil fuels.
- Complete oxidation leads to the production of CO2.
- Carbon monoxide combines with hemoglobin with 200 times more affinity as a comparison to oxygen.
- CO + Hb = CO-Hb
- CO-Hb produces a cherry-red or violet color of the blood and skin.
- So there are few sites available for O2 to combine with Hb.
- Less O2 is available for tissue respiration leads to Hypoxemia because CO-Hb is not capable of transporting O2.
- CO poisoning is directly toxic to the intracellular oxidative mechanism and produces more nitric oxide (NO).
- When CO poisoning takes place, ask for Hb analysis for CO-Hb.
- CO is readily cleared by breathing normal air.
- Fetal Hb has more affinity for CO, and if these fetuses are exposed to CO, they are more at risk.
Sources of CO are:
-
- Tobacco smoke.
- Automobile exhaust fumes.
- Natural gas heaters where there is less ventilation.
- Defective gas stoves.
- Petroleum and natural gas fuel fumes.
- Endogenous production of the CO:
- It is produced from the heme, and the CO-Hb level is ≥1%.
- CO is also produced in the liver by the metabolism of dichloromethane (methyl chloride), and this is found in paints and varnish.
- People who are prone to get CO-poisoning:
- In defective furnaces.
- A worker such as coal mining.
- The firefighter.
- Smokers of cigarettes, cigars, or pipes in the closed space.
- Accidental poisoning was most often seen in house fires, engine exhaust (car left starting in the closed garage), indoor heaters, and stoves.
- Unventilated spaces where charcoal and gas are burning are the source of poisoning during winter power outages.
- Intentional CO-poisoning is common in suicide cases.
Signs and symptoms of Carbon monoxide poisoning:
- This CO poisoning takes place from the house fire, gas heaters, stoves, and engine exhaust.
- 30% to 40% carboxyhemoglobin contents are associated with severe symptoms.
- >50% is associated with coma.
- Cigarette smoking may produce levels as high as 10% to 15%.
- There are nausea and weakness.
- There is a headache, dizziness, and vomiting.
- Tinnitus is ringing in the ears.
- It upsets the stomach.
- The patient may have chest pain.
- The patient will be confused.
- Drunk or sleeping people may die due to CO poisoning.
Carbon monoxide % level effects on the body:CO level Clinical presentation of the patient 0.4% to 2% Normal (nonsmoker person) 2% to 6% Normal smoker 10% to 20% - Dyspnea on exertion
- Mild symptoms
20% to 50% - Severe symptoms
- Lethargy
- Headache
- Loss of consciousness
>50% - The patient will go into a coma
- Ultimately there is death
- Clinical effects and source of CO-Hb:
- CO-Hb poisoning is due to smoking, exhaust fumes, and fires.
- Hemolytic disease.
- Bleeding in the intestine.
- Newborn where the fetal Hb breakdown that yields endogenous CO.
- There is a direct relationship between the CO and symptoms of heart disease, angina, and myocardial infarction.
Various levels of CO% and clinical effects on the body:
CO-saturated Hb % | Signs and Symptoms |
---|---|
10 | Slight dyspnoea |
20 | A headache |
30 | Irritable, impaired judgment, Loss of memory |
40 | Confusion, decreased vision, weakness |
50 | Fainting, ataxia, and collapse |
60 | Coma |
> 60 (>70%) | death |
Measurement (Lab diagnosis):
- For CO estimation, can use venous or arterial blood.
- CO is measured by CO-oximeter.
- A blood gas analyzer measures oxyhemoglobin by calculation.
- Lactate can be measured.
- Calculation of the anion gap.
- Check myocardial markers.
Normal
Source 1
- CO-Hb = <0.5% of total hemoglobin.
- Newborn = upto 5 % saturation of total Hb.
- Nonsmoker = <3 % saturation of total Hb.
- Smoker Light = 2 to 5 % saturation of total Hb.
- Smoker heavy = 5 to 10 % saturation of total Hb.
- Critical value = >20 % saturation of total Hb.
- Lethal value = >50 % saturation of Hb.
Source 2
Clinical condition | % saturation of Hb |
Nonsmokers | 0.5 to 1.5 |
Smokers | |
1 to 2 packs /day | 4 to 5 |
>2 packs/day (heavy smoker) | 8 to 9 |
Toxic level | |
Toxic level | >20 |
Lethal level | >50 |
Source 3
Saturation of hemoglobin
- Nonsmoker = <3%
- Smoker = ≤ 12%
- Newborn = ≥ 12%
Source 2
Clinical values and their effects:
COHb % | Clinical signs and symptoms |
20 to 30% | Dizziness, headache, and disturbance in judgment |
30 to 40% | Tachycardia, hyperpnea, hypotension, and confusion |
50 to 60% | Coma |
>60% | Death |
Source 4
- Nonsmoker = <2% of total Hb.
- Light smoker = 4 to 5% of total Hb.
- Heavy smoker = 6 to 8% of total Hb.
- Newborn = 10 to 12% of the total Hb.
Increased level of CO:
- This is 50 to 60% seen in CO-poisoning.
Treatment:
- CO- toxicity needs a high concentration of O2 to replace the CO-Hb.
- In the case of severe CO, toxicity may be treated with hyperbaric oxygen (100% O2 gas).