Methemoglobinemia historical perspective

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1], Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Aksiniya Stevasarova, M.D.

Overview

Historical Perspective

Discovery

Outbreaks

  • There haven't been reported any major outbreaks of methemoglobemia.

Landmark Events in the Development of Treatment Strategies

Impact on Cultural History

  • Methemoglobinemia will stay in history thanks to the famous painting of The Blue People of Kentucky, by Walt Spitzmiller in 1982.

Famous Cases

  • The 'blue men of Lurgan' were a pair of Lurgan men suffering from what was described as 'familial idiopathic methemoglobinemia' who were treated by Dr. James Deeny in 1942. Deeny, who would later become the Chief Medical Officer of the Republic of Ireland, prescribed a course of ascorbic acid and sodium bicarbonate. In case one, by the eighth day of treatment there was a marked change in appearance and by the twelfth day of treatment the patient's complexion was normal. In case two, the patient's complexion reached normality over a month-long duration of treatment.
  • The Fugates, a family that lived in the hills of Kentucky, are the most famous example of this hereditary chromosomal error. Known as the Blue Fugates, Martin Fugate, settled near Hazard, Kentucky, circa 1800. His wife was a carrier of the recessive methemoglobinemia gene, as was a nearby clan with whom the Fugates intermarried. As a result, many descendants of the Fugates were born with methemoglobinemia.


References

Reference to these cases is found in the British Medical Journal, June 12, Vol. 1 ,pg. 721, written by J. Deeny, E.T. Murdock and J.J. Rogan and appears also in the book of essays, The End of an Epidemic, by James Deeny ISBN I 899047 06 9. Template:WH Template:WS