CARBON-MONOXIDE INTOXICATION DURING PREGNANCY - A CASE PRESENTATION AND PATHOPHYSIOLOGIC DISCUSSION, WITH EMPHASIS ON MOLECULAR MECHANISMS

In carbon monoxide (GO) poisoning, the mortality and morbidity risk do es not always correlate with the level of carboxyhemoglobin (COHb). Re cent studies confirm that the mitochondrial cytochrome portion of the respiratory chain is susceptible to CO toxicity at concentrations trad itionally considered nontoxic. These laboratory findings correlate wit h subtle neurologic symptoms detected by psychometric studies in indiv iduals many days from the time of acute intoxication Additionally, in the pregnant patient, a time lag for both uptake and elimination of CO between the mother and fetus has been demonstrated, with the fetus at risk for hypoxia even when the mother's blood level of CO is nontoxic . Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy in pregnant patients has not been sh own to have adverse effects on the fetus.