Cyanide toxicity

Cyanide toxicity is a life-threatening poisoning resulting from exposure to toxic cyanide gases, salts, or cyanogenic compounds, commonly via smoke inhalation in enclosed-space fires, occupational hazards, or intentional ingestion

Cyanide toxicity is a life-threatening poisoning resulting from exposure to toxic cyanide gases, salts, or cyanogenic compounds, commonly via smoke inhalation in enclosed-space fires, occupational hazards, or intentional ingestion

The cyanide ion exerts profound systemic toxicity by reversibly binding to the ferric iron within mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase, thereby arresting oxidative phosphorylation and aerobic cellular respiration This mechanism induces widespread histotoxic hypoxia that disproportionately impacts oxygen-dependent systems, predominantly the central nervous and cardiovascular systems

The cyanide ion exerts profound systemic toxicity by reversibly binding to the ferric iron within mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase, thereby arresting oxidative phosphorylation and aerobic cellular respiration

This mechanism induces widespread histotoxic hypoxia that disproportionately impacts oxygen-dependent systems, predominantly the central nervous and cardiovascular systems Patients typically present with rapid neurological and hemodynamic deterioration—manifesting as altered mental status, seizures, coma, dyspnea, and refractory hypotension—accompanied by severe high-anion-gap metabolic acidosis and marked hyperlactatemia

Patients typically present with rapid neurological and hemodynamic deterioration—manifesting as altered mental status, seizures, coma, dyspnea, and refractory hypotension—accompanied by severe high-anion-gap metabolic acidosis and marked hyperlactatemia