Summary
In humans and in dogs, respectively, about 30 and 60% of the haemoglobin was oxidized to ferrihaemoglobin by intravenous injection of 4-dimethylaminophenol hydrochloride. Toluidine blue was found to accelerate the subsequent reduction of ferrihaemoglobin in dogs 2–3 times more rapidly than methylene blue. In man toluidine blue 2 mg/kg was about twice as effective as the same dose of methylene blue. Such doses of methylene blue caused side effects, and according to the dose-effect relationship a further increase in the rate of ferrihaemoglobin reduction with a further increase in the dose of catalyst was unlikely. Toluidine blue 4 mg/kg did not produce the side effects observed with methylene blue and accelerated the reduction of ferrihaemoglobin by 60% more than doses of 2 mg/kg. Its greater maximal effect, and the fact that it is better tolerated than methylene blue, imply that toluidine blue should be preferred for accelerating ferrihaemoglobin reduction in man.
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Kiese, M., Lörcher, W., Weger, N. et al. Comparative studies on the effects of toluidine blue and methylene blue on the reduction of ferrihaemoglobin in man and dog. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 4, 115–118 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00562507
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00562507