Question

Blood analysis of a patient reveals an unusually high quantity of carboxyhaemoglobin content. Which of the following conclusions is most likely to be correct?

• A. The patient has been inhaling polluted air containing usually high content of carbon disulphide
• B. The patient has been inhaling polluted air containing usually high content of chloroform
• C. The patient has been inhaling polluted air containing usually high content of carbon dioxide
• D. The patient has been inhaling polluted air containing usually high content of carbon monoxide

Answer 1

The correct option is D The patient has been inhaling polluted air containing usually high content of carbon monoxide

If the blood analysis of a patient reveals an unusually high quantity of carboxyhaemoglobin content, it can be concluded that the patient has been inhaling polluted air containing usually high content of carbon monoxide.
Carbon monoxide forms a stable compound with haemoglobin called carboxyhaemoglobin as the affinity of haemoglobin for carbon monoxide is 200 times greater than its affinity for oxygen. In this form, haemoglobin does not carry oxygen resulting in death.

Hb(Haemoglobin) + CO(Carbon monoxide) → HbCO (Carboxyhaemoglobin)