British Journal of Anaesthesia, 1990, Vol. 64, No. 1 72-76
© 1990 The Board of Management and Trustees of the British Journal of Anaesthesia
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INVERSE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN AGE-DEPENDENT ERYTHROCYTE ACTIVITY OF METHAEMOGLOBIN REDUCTASE AND PRILOCAINE-INDUCED METHAEMOGLOBINAEMIA DURING INFANCY
,*
Department of Anaesthesiology, University Hospital Uppsala, Sweden
Department of Clinical Chemistry, University Hospital Uppsala, Sweden
Astra Alab AB Södertälje, Sweden
* Address for correspondence: Anestesikliniken, Central-lasarettet, S-721 89 Västerås, Sweden.
We have measured plasma concentrations of local anaesthetics, and the substance fraction of methaemoglobin (MetHb), in infants less than 3 months of age, after application of a lignocaine-prilocaine cream (EMLA). A total of EMLA 2 g was applied over four different skin areas, totalling 16 cm2, for 4 h before anaesthesia for a minor surgical procedure. Sampling was carried out before and 4, 8 and 12 h after application. Maximum MetHb values (median = 2.24%) were obtained usually at 8 h and were significantly (P < 0.001) higher than before application (median 1.32%). The plasma concentrations of local anaesthetics were low (maximum values: prilocaine 78 ng ml–1, lignocaine 412 ng ml–1). The activity of erythrocyte MetHb reductase (cytochrome b5 reductase) was analysed. Data from a previously studied group of infants aged 3–12 months were included also. Enzyme activity did not reach adult levels until after the age of 3 months. It showed a good inverse correlation with the maximum MetHb values after application of EMLA. Although the MetHb concentrations in the infants younger than 3 months were small, the enzyme capacity may be overloaded when EMLA is administered at the same time as other MetHb-inducing agents. It is concluded that the use of EMLA should be restricted in this age group.
Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Central Hospital, V
stera{dot}s, Sweden.
Department of Anaesthesiology, Odense Sygehus, Odense, Denmark.
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