Study summary · research use only
A review of methylene blue treatment for cardiovascular collapse
Plain-language summary
Paraphrased from the published abstract below — not a verdict on whether anything works.
This review describes historical and current uses of methylene blue (MB), including as an antidote for methemoglobinemia, ifosfamide-induced encephalopathy, and ackee fruit and cyanide poisoning, and as a dye, antimalarial, and antidepressant. The abstract states that MB has more recently been advocated as a potential adjunct in shock states, reviewing its proposed role in septic, anaphylactic, and toxin-induced shock. It describes a proposed mechanism whereby MB raises blood pressure by interfering with guanylate cyclase activity and preventing cyclic guanosine monophosphate production and vasodilatation. The authors state MB may be an adjunct in treating these shock states.
Abstract
Historically, methylene blue (MB) has been used for multiple purposes, including as an antidote for toxin-induced and hereditary methemoglobinemia, ifosfamide-induced encephalopathy, and ackee fruit and cyanide poisoning; as an aniline dye derivative, antimalarial agent, and antidepressant. Most recently, the use of MB has been advocated as a potential adjunct in the treatment of shock states. Our article reviews the role of MB in septic shock, anaphylactic shock, and toxin-induced shock. MB is proposed to increase blood pressure in these shock states by interfering with guanylate cyclase activity, and preventing cyclic guanosine monophosphate production and vasodilatation. MB may be an adjunct in the treatment of septic shock, anaphylactic shock, and toxin-induced shock.
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