ACMT Toxicology Visual Pearl: Is the Silver Bullet for Refractory Vasoplegia Really Blue?

Posted by Parker Hambright, MD on

What is the proposed mechanism for the pictured antidote when used as a pressor for refractory vasoplegic shock?

  1. Alpha-1-adrenergic agonist
  2. Angiotensin II receptor antagonist
  3. Nitric oxide/cyclic GMP pathway inhibition
  4. Vasopressin-1 receptor agonist

Answer

3 – Inhibition along the nitric oxide (NO)/cyclic GMP pathway

Background

Vasoplegic shock is a maldistribution of blood flow and inadequate oxygen delivery secondary to an abnormally low systemic vascular resistance [1]. Catecholamine- resistant vasoplegic shock can occur, refractory to norepinephrine, epinephrine, and dopamine. Methylene blue increases systemic vascular resistance through inhibition along the NO/cyclic GMP pathway. Although evidence is limited, methylene blue may serve as a salvage vasopressor in catecholamine-resistant vasoplegic shock – particularly in shock secondary to sepsis, anaphylaxis, or post cardiopulmonary bypass [2].

How does methylene blue work as a vasopressor?

  • Methylene blue is FDA approved for the treatment of methemoglobinemia but has increasingly been used off-label in vasoplegic shock as a potent vasoconstrictor.
  • Mechanisms of Action
    • Vasopressor: Methylene blue inhibits NO-induced guanylyl cyclase conversion of GTP to cyclic GMP, an intracellular signaling molecule for vasodilation [2]. It also downregulates endothelial NO synthase [3].
    • Methemoglobinemia: Methylene blue is an electron shuttle from NADPH in order to reduce Fe3+ in methemoglobin to Fe2+ in hemoglobin.

What is the evidence for methylene blue as a vasopressor?

The evidence is limited. The majority of studies are in catecholamine-resistant vasoplegic shock secondary to sepsis, anaphylaxis, and following cardiopulmonary bypass although there has been increasing use in the setting of poisoning with agents such as calcium channel blockers.

  • Sepsis: Two randomized control trials (n=20 and n=30) demonstrated administration of methylene blue resulted in increased SVR, increased MAP, and decrease in catecholamine vasopressor requirements. No mortality benefit was observed [4, 5].
  • Anaphylaxis: Review of case reports demonstrate successful treatment of 11 patients with methylene blue in refractory anaphylactic shock [6]. Systemic vasodilation in anaphylactic shock is partially attributed to NO activity induced by histamine release [7]. In rat models with anaphylactic shock, epinephrine and methylene blue produce a synergistic effect in reversing histamine-induced vasodilation [8].
  • Post-cardiopulmonary bypass: Two large retrospective analyses have demonstrated a mortality benefit, increase in SVR, and increase in MAP with early administration of methylene blue when compared to late administration [9,10].

The exact role for methylene blue in vasoplegia has yet to be fully elucidated but currently should be considered for use in catecholamine-resistant vasoplegic shock secondary to post cardiopulmonary bypass, sepsis, and anaphylaxis. Further research is needed to determine efficacy and additional indications.

What are the proposed dosing, contraindications, and common adverse effects?

Note that methylene blue dosing is DIFFERENT for vasoplegia as compared to methemoglobinemia treatment. The proposed dosing for vasoplegia is the following [11, 12]:

  • Initial bolus: 1-2 mg/kg in 50 mL of 5% dextrose IV over 5 minutes
  • Additional dosing:
    • Repeat boluses every 4-6 hours, OR
    • Continuous infusion at 0.25-2 mg/kg/hour immediately following the initial bolus
  • Doses over 7 mg/kg are associated with a higher incidence of adverse effects.
  • There is variation in the literature concerning the dosing; the authors use the bolus followed by an infusion

Adverse Effects [12]:

  • Nausea
  • Diaphoresis
  • Pain with infusion at the IV site
  • Blue-green urine
  • Hemolytic anemia
  • Hypersensitivity reaction
  • Increased risk of serotonin toxicity at higher doses in patients concurrently taking other serotoninergic medications

Contraindications/Cautions:

  • History of hypersensitivity reaction
  • Pregnancy category X
  • Concomitant use of serotoninergic agents
    • Relative contraindication as risk of serotonin toxicity is increased, especially with higher doses of methylene blue >7 mg/kg
  • Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency
    • Relative contraindication as risk of hemolysis is increased
  • Severe right ventricular dysfunction and pulmonary hypertension
    • Relative contraindication as methylene blue increases pulmonary vascular resistance which could exacerbate these conditions [13]

Bedside Pearls on Methylene Blue

  • It serves as a vasopressor through inhibition along the nitric oxide/cyclic GMP pathway
  • It can be considered in vasoplegic shock refractory to catecholamine pressors (the authors suggest refractory to 2 pressors) – particularly in post cardiopulmonary bypass induced hypotension, sepsis, or anaphylaxis.

References

  1. Belletti A, Landoni G, Lomivorotov VV, Oriani A, Ajello S. Adrenergic Downregulation in Critical Care: Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Evidence. Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia. 2020;34(4):1023-1041. PMID: 31839459
  2. Mayer B, Brunner F, Schmidt K. Inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis by methylene blue. Biochemical Pharmacology. 1993;45(2):367-374. PMID: 7679577
  3. Nguyen LP, Gerstein NS. Cardiovascular Pharmacology in Noncardiac Surgery. In: Kaplan J, Cronin B, Meaus T, Eds. Essentials of Cardiac Anesthesia for Noncardiac Surgery. 2e. Elsevier; 2019, 247-288.
  4. Kirov MY, Evgenov OV, Evgenov NV, et al. Infusion of methylene blue in human septic shock: a pilot, randomized, controlled study. Crit Care Med. 2001;29(10):1860–1867 PMID: 11588440
  5. Memis D, Karamanlioglu B, Yuksel M, Gemlik I, Pamukcu Z. The influence of methylene blue infusion on cytokine levels during severe sepsis. Anaesth Intensive Care. 2002;30(6):755–762 PMID: 12500513
  6. Evora PRB, Simon MR. Role of nitric oxide production in anaphylaxis and its relevance for the treatment of anaphylactic hypotension with methylene blue. Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. 2007;99(4):306-313. PMID: 17941276
  7. Dachman WD, Bedarida G, Blaschke TF, Hoffman BB. Histamine-induced venodilation in human beings involves both H1 and H2 receptor subtypes. The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 1994;93(3):606-614. PMID: 8151062
  8. Zheng F, Barthel G, Collange O, et al. Methylene blue and epinephrine. Critical Care Medicine. 2013;41(1):195-204. PMID: 23222265
  9. Mehaffey JH, Johnston LE, Hawkins RB, et al. Methylene blue for vasoplegic syndrome after cardiac operation: early administration improves survival. The Annals of Thoracic Surgery. 2017;104(1):36-41. PMID: 28551045
  10. Petermichl W, Gruber M, Schoeller I, Allouch K, Graf BM, Zausig YA. The additional use of methylene blue has a decatecholaminisation effect on cardiac vasoplegic syndrome after cardiac surgery. Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery. 2021;16(1). PMID: 34321019
  11. Septic Shock. EMCrit Project.
  12. Howland M. Methylene Blue. In: Nelson LS, Howland M, Lewin NA, Smith SW, Goldfrank LR, Hoffman RS. eds. Goldfrank’s Toxicologic Emergencies, 11e. McGraw-Hill Education; 2019
  13. Hajj-Chahine J, Jayle C, Corbi P. Methylene blue in patients with severe pulmonary The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. 2013;145(3):898. PMID: 23415007

Author information

Parker Hambright, MD

Emergency Medicine Resident
Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center
Charlotte, NC

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