Toxicity of carbon monoxide

Carbon monoxide is the most common domestic and industrial poison in Australia. Despite this incidence and the neuropsychiatric sequelae often seen in survivors, the toxicity of carbon monoxide is not understood. Consequently, markers of severity are not available and the ideal treatment of carbon monoxide poisoning is controversial. Most theories of carbon monoxide toxicity, and hence treatment regimes, are based on an assumption that the predominant mechanism of toxicity is an anaemic hypoxia mechanism. However, data from past and ongoing research at the Royal Adelaide Hospital are inconsistent with these theories and suggest a direct tissue toxicity. These studies aim to lead to the identification of a marker of poisoning severity and the development of rational treatment regimens.