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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Mechanism Causes Alcohol To Cause Histotoxic Hypoxia?

hi, i am wondering what the mechanism is that causes alcohol to cause histotoxic hypoxia? i know cyanide causes hitotoxic hypoxia by blocking c-oxidase for the electron transport chain and inhibiting the production of ATP. is this the same mechanism for alcohol?
Wed, 26 Mar 2014
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Psychiatrist,  's  Response
Hello,
Welcome to Healthcare Magic.

Histotoxic hypoxia (or histoxic hypoxia) is the inability of cells to take up or utilize oxygen from the bloodstream, despite physiologically normal delivery of oxygen to such tissues.

Histotoxic hypoxia results from tissue poisoning, such as that caused by alcohol, cyanide (which acts by inhibiting cytochrome oxidase) and certain other poisons like hydrogen sulfide.

Alcohol changes membrane permeability of cells which can affect ATP utilization by cells and tissues, which can lead to histotoxic hypoxia specially in overdose.

Wish you good health and all the best.
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What Mechanism Causes Alcohol To Cause Histotoxic Hypoxia?

Hello, Welcome to Healthcare Magic. Histotoxic hypoxia (or histoxic hypoxia) is the inability of cells to take up or utilize oxygen from the bloodstream, despite physiologically normal delivery of oxygen to such tissues. Histotoxic hypoxia results from tissue poisoning, such as that caused by alcohol, cyanide (which acts by inhibiting cytochrome oxidase) and certain other poisons like hydrogen sulfide. Alcohol changes membrane permeability of cells which can affect ATP utilization by cells and tissues, which can lead to histotoxic hypoxia specially in overdose. Wish you good health and all the best.