Methylene blue for hemolytic crisis in patients with met-hemoglobinemia secondary to hemoglobin volga: A case series

Abstract

There is a rare subset of patients with a genetically abnormal hemoglobin structure initially discovered in the Volga region of Europe known as Volga anemia. Key features of this condition include compromised delivery of oxygen to peripheral tissues and altered red blood cells that have a higher likelihood of being broken down or hemolyzed, which can lead to significant hemolytic anemia. Methylene blue is a dye that acts as a reducing agent of oxygen and is commonly used in toxic states that lead to methemoglobin build-up. This paper explores the pathophysiology of this genetic condition and documents three cases across two patients—a father and son—when methylene blue was used during an anemic crisis.

Keywords

• anemic crisis
• hemolytic crisis
• methylene blue
• volga anemia