부산대학교 도서관

Methemoglobin formation with resulting anemia has received considerable attention in the recent literature. The toxic effect of such drugs as the nitrites, the sulfonamides (with the exception of sulfadiazine® and sulfamerazine®) and the aniline dyes1 has been most commonly implicated as a causative mechanism. The aniline dyes have provided a particular hazard because they are able to penetrate the intact skin and have, therefore, been responsible for poisoning resulting from the contact with freshly marked diapers in the hospital nursery.2 The nitrate content of well water used in the preparation of a feeding formula has been a proved cause of cyanosis and methemoglobinemia in infants, the nitrates being converted to nitrites by the action of the intestinal bacteria.3 Other causes of methemoglobinemia include an idiopathic form with a familial incidence in which the defect seems to be inherent in the red cells.4 An enterogenous form is