Methemoglobinemia in Patient with G6PD Deficiency and SARS-CoV-2 Infection

Emerg Infect Dis. 2020 Sep;26(9):2279-2281. doi: 10.3201/eid2609.202353. Epub 2020 Jun 24.

Abstract

We report a case of intravascular hemolysis and methemoglobinemia, precipitated by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection, in a patient with undiagnosed glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency. Clinicians should be aware of this complication of coronavirus disease as a cause of error in pulse oximetry and a potential risk for drug-induced hemolysis.

Keywords: COVID-19; G6PD; SARS CoV-2; coronavirus; coronavirus disease; deficiency; glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase; hemolytic anemia; methemoglobinemia; respiratory infections; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; viruses; zoonoses.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Letter

MeSH terms

  • Betacoronavirus*
  • COVID-19
  • Coronavirus Infections / blood
  • Coronavirus Infections / complications*
  • Coronavirus Infections / virology
  • Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency / blood
  • Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency / virology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Methemoglobinemia / blood
  • Methemoglobinemia / virology*
  • Middle Aged
  • Pandemics
  • Pneumonia, Viral / blood
  • Pneumonia, Viral / complications*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / virology
  • SARS-CoV-2