English abstract
Abstract: Acquired methemoglobinaemia is a relatively rare condition and, therefore infrequently encountered
in acute medical practice. Suspicion of the condition may be triggered when the measured PaO2 is 'out of keeping'
with the oxygen saturations that are discovered with pulse oximetry. We describe two separate cases of acquired
methemoglobinaemia secondary to the recreational use of alkyl nitrites ('poppers'). The patients presented at
separate times to two different teaching hospitals in London, UK. The similarity of these cases has led the authors
to conclude that a raised awareness of this potentially fatal condition, and its association with a widely-available
recreational drug, is necessary to ensure a correct and timely diagnosis.
