Abstract
Reported was sulfhemoglobinemia which developed in a 53-year-old female. After having taken a herb medicine containing acetanilid and precipitated sulfur for 3 years, the patient developed cyanosis and anemia which were confirmed by spectroscopy to be attributable to an increase in sulfhemoglobin. Measurement by Evelyn-Mallory method revealed the methemoglobin to be nearly normal (1.55%) but the sulfhemoglobin to be remarkably increased (20.1%).
Since there was no history of constipation for the onset of the present disease, it was thought that the long-term administration of precipitated sulfur together with acetanilid was responsible. The initial examination showed a high rate of Heinz bodies, reticulocytosis, disappearance of haptoglobin and erythroid hyperplasia of the bone marrow, leading to the presumption of the involvement of the hemolytic process due to the drug.
Although reduced enzyme activity within the erythrocytes has been referred to as the intrinsic mechanism for the onset of the present disease, there was no abnormality in the present case as far as examined.
