RT Book, Section A1 Price, Dennis P. A2 Hoffman, Robert S. A2 Howland, Mary Ann A2 Lewin, Neal A. A2 Nelson, Lewis S. A2 Goldfrank, Lewis R. SR Print(0) ID 1108437435 T1 Methemoglobin Inducers T2 Goldfrank's Toxicologic Emergencies, 10e YR 2015 FD 2015 PB McGraw-Hill Education PP New York, NY SN 9780071801843 LK accesspharmacy.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1108437435 RD 2024/03/29 AB Methemoglobinemia is a disorder of the red blood cell. Exposure to various xenobiotics can adversely affect the red cell membrane, intracellular metabolism, and, as is the case with methemoglobinemia, interfere with hemoglobin function. Methemoglobin occurs when the iron atom in hemoglobin loses one electron to an oxidant, and the ferrous (Fe2+) or oxidized state of iron is transformed into the ferric (Fe3+) state. Although methemoglobin is always present at low concentrations in the body, methemoglobinemia is defined herein as an abnormal elevation of the methemoglobin level above 1%. The ubiquity of oxidants, both in the environment and in the hospital, has increased the number of cases of reported methemoglobinemia.