Biomaterial Database

Rebound severe methemoglobinemia from ingestion of a nitroethane artificial-fingernail remover. 1995

K C Osterhoudt, and C C Wiley, and R Dudley, and S Sheen, and F M Henretig

Department of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia 19104, USA.

We describe life-threatening methemoglobinemia in a child who ingested a nitroethane artificial-fingernail remover initially mistaken to be an acetone-based polish remover. Nitroethane-induced methemoglobinemia may be delayed and recurrent; patients ingesting this substance may warrant close observation for at least 24 hours. Care givers are cautioned to determine the precise substance involved in ingestions of potentially toxic fingernail products.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007223	Infant	A child between 1 and 23 months of age.	Infants
D008708	Methemoglobinemia	The presence of methemoglobin in the blood, resulting in cyanosis. A small amount of methemoglobin is present in the blood normally, but injury or toxic agents convert a larger proportion of hemoglobin into methemoglobin, which does not function reversibly as an oxygen carrier. Methemoglobinemia may be due to a defect in the enzyme NADH methemoglobin reductase (an autosomal recessive trait) or to an abnormality in hemoglobin M (an autosomal dominant trait). (Dorland, 27th ed)	Methemoglobinemias
D009595	Nitroparaffins	Alkanes having one or more nitro (NO2) groups attached to carbon atoms.
D003358	Cosmetics	Substances intended to be applied to the human body for cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness, or altering the appearance without affecting the body's structure or functions. Included in this definition are skin creams, lotions, perfumes, lipsticks, fingernail polishes, eye and facial makeup preparations, permanent waves, hair colors, toothpastes, and deodorants, as well as any material intended for use as a component of a cosmetic product. (U.S. Food & Drug Administration Center for Food Safety & Applied Nutrition Office of Cosmetics Fact Sheet (web page) Feb 1995)	Personal Care Products,Care Product, Personal,Care Products, Personal,Personal Care Product,Product, Personal Care,Products, Personal Care
D004980	Ethane	A two carbon alkane with the formula H3C-CH3.
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012720	Severity of Illness Index	Levels within a diagnostic group which are established by various measurement criteria applied to the seriousness of a patient's disorder.	Illness Index Severities,Illness Index Severity