Turquoise to dark green organs at autopsy

Virchows Arch. 2009 Mar;454(3):341-4. doi: 10.1007/s00428-009-0734-x. Epub 2009 Feb 3.

Abstract

We report the case of a 72-year-old man who died in septic shock following pancreatectomy. At autopsy, organs were discoloured with a rapid colour change from turquoise to dark green, especially of the myocardium. The patient had received 200 mg methylene blue (MB), i.v., for treatment of septic shock 90 min prior to death. Analysis of tissue samples by liquid extraction and liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry demonstrated different concentrations of MB and its metabolites azure A and B in the heart, lungs, kidneys, and liver. Our findings clearly demonstrate the relation of MB administration and organ discolouration at autopsy and shed a new light on MB distribution and accumulation in septic shock.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Autopsy*
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Coronary Disease / complications
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / metabolism*
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Hypertension / complications
  • Male
  • Methylene Blue / metabolism*
  • Methylene Blue / therapeutic use
  • Pancreatectomy
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / complications
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / surgery
  • Postoperative Complications / drug therapy
  • Shock, Septic / drug therapy
  • Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / complications
  • Tissue Distribution

Substances

  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Methylene Blue