A Study of the Effect of Methylene Blue on Lactate Metabolism of the Dog Erythrocyte

Abstract

Huyghebaert (1) In 1924 reported that the administration of methylene blue to dogs resulted in a hemolytic anemia, He noted that the degree of anemia was proportional to the amount of dye administered (over the dose range used), and that if the dose was quite high, hemoglobinuria and hemoglobinonia occured. In 1934, Wendel and Ilafley (2) suggested the use of methylene blue as an agent for reducing the red blood cell count, after having produced hemolytic anemia in dogs with the dye. McLimans and Grant (3), while conducting studies on Tsutsugamushi fever, noted that the administration of methylene blue to rats infected with R. nipponica, although apparently cured of the infection, ultimately died as a result of anemia, Struck and Mitchell (4) in 1951 reported that dogs which received methylene blue orally developed hemolytic anemia, the degree of anemia increasing as the amount of dye given was increased. They reduced the red blood count of the dogs to between 1.5 and 3.0 million and maintained them at this level for three months. Withdrawal of the dye resulted in rapid recovery.