Prevention of nitroprusside-induced cyanide toxicity with hydroxocobalamin.

Abstract

To investigate hydroxocobalamin's role in preventing cyanide intoxication from sodium nitroprusside, we studied two groups of patients. One group received nitroprusside alone, and the other received nitroprusside and hydroxocobalamin. Red-cell and plasma cyanide levels were 83.44 +/- 23.12 and 3.51 +/- 1.01 microgram per 100 ml after nitroprusside alone and were 33.18 +/- 17.29 and 2.18 +/- 0.65 microgram per 100 ml after nitroprusside plus hydroxocobalamin. Acidosis developed in patients with red-cell cyanide levels higher than 75 microgram per 100 ml. When hydroxocobalamin infusion was stopped before sodium nitroprusside infusion was discontinued, blood cyanide levels and base deficit increased in a manner similar to that in the untreated group. The dose of nitroprusside used in each group did not differ statistically. These data show that hydroxocobalamin prevents cyanide transfer from red cells and plasma to tissue after nitroprusside metabolism, and thereby prevents cyanide toxicity from large intravenous doses of the drug.

• Authors: J E Cottrell, P Casthely, J D Brodie, K Patel, A Klein, H Turndorf
• Journal: The New England journal of medicine (N Engl J Med) Vol. 298 Issue 15 Pg. 809-11 (Apr 13 1978) ISSN: 0028-4793 [Print] United States
• PMID: 634316 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Cyanides
• Ferricyanides
• Nitroprusside
• Hydroxocobalamin

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Cyanides (blood)
• Erythrocytes (metabolism)
• Ferricyanides (toxicity)
• Humans
• Hydroxocobalamin (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Middle Aged
• Nitroprusside (administration & dosage, metabolism, toxicity)
• Surgical Procedures, Operative