• ABSTRACT
    • Blood glucose, pyruvate and lactate were examined during hospitalization of 13 cases of acute carbon monoxide poisoning developing from short (less than or equal to 1.5 h) or long (10-14 h) exposure. CO intoxication resulted in increased blood levels of all carbohydrate metabolites studied. Increased levels of pyruvate and lactate were much more pronounced and lasted for a longer time following long, compared with short, CO exposure despite similar blood COHb level (about 40% at the beginning of hospitalization). The results showed difference in biochemical effect of short and long single exposure to CO that could not be detected by the measurement of COHb.