Concentration of Carbon Monoxide (CO) in Postmortem Human Tissues: Effect of Environmental CO Exposure^*

Abstract

We studied how carbon monoxide (CO) is distributed within the human body through quantitation of CO concentrations in postmortem tissue samples from fatalities including possible CO exposure. Stored, frozen tissues were diced, sonicated in water, and 0.01-8.0 mg wet weight (ww) tissues were incubated with sulfosalicylic acid in CO-purged, septum-sealed vials. CO released into the headspace was quantitated by reduction gas chromatography. Mean tissue CO concentrations (pmol/mg ww) from subjects diagnosed to have no known CO exposure (control, N=14), died from fire (N=13), and CO asphyxiation (N=7), respectively, were: adipose (2;13;9), brain (3;13;65), muscle (15;97;297), heart (30;99;371), kidney (22;432;709, lung (54;690;2638), spleen (73;1366;3548), and blood (162;2238;5070). Carboxyhemoglobin concentrations were 1.4%, 25.2%, and 69.1% of total hemoglobin, respectively. We conclude that measurements of CO concentration in a variety of tissues can be used as markers for the degree of exogenous CO exposure and the identification of possible causes of death.

How Reliable are Parenchymal Tissues for the Evaluation of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning? A Pilot Study

“…In the present study the relationship between the blood COHb% values and the blood[CO] pmol/mg amount was studied having as a model the blood[CO] = 82.5(COHb) + 177 formula already calculated by Vreman et al. . However, in our population, this relation is best described by the formula blood[CO] = 6904.7 (COHb%) + 109.72 (R = 0.89).…”

“…, while Vreman et al. found high R values for the lung and the kidney but—unexpectedly—not for the spleen. The present work adds liver reliability to the shared evidence about lung and kidney and refines Vreman et al.…”

“…In 2000, Kintz et al (7) analyzed the relationship between blood COHb values and CO muscular amounts and reported a 2 lL CO/g muscle cutoff to confirm a CO intoxication. In 2005-2006, Vreman et al (8,9) reported that there was a strong statistical correlation between COHb% blood values and CO lung, kidney, and muscle amounts (R blood/lung: 0.72, R blood/kidney: 0.76, R blood/ muscle 0.72) and they also published some mathematical formulas for converting the blood COHb% values into parenchymal [CO]pmol/mg values.…”

Accuracy profile validation of a new method for carbon monoxide measurement in the human blood using headspace-gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (HS-GC–MS)

“…However, considering that cardiac blood exhibited an HbCO (CO back calculated) (46%) that was higher than the HbCO (spectrophotometry) (38%) illustrates the necessity to a According to Cardeal et al [16]: HbCO % = CO (mol/mL) × 100/0.06 × Hb (g/L). b Adapted from Vreman et al [46]: HbCO % = [(CO (L/100 mL blood)/2.4) − 177]/82.5. c According to [4,8,[42][43][44][45]: HbCO % = CO (mL/100 mL blood) × 5. d HbCO obtained by spectrophotometry.…”

The social network of carbon monoxide in medicine

“…Administration of a CO releasing molecule (CO-RM) in many cases does not lead to an increase in COHb yet can mimic HO-1 protection and may reflect offloading of CO at or within the cell. Very small amounts of CO do access the tissue compartment over time [23, 24], however, very few studies have assessed a dose-response of CO in the tissue compartments.…”