[The influence of sodiumnitroprusside on the oxyhaemoglobin dissociation curve in vitro (author's transl)].

Blood from 16 donors was incubated with 3 microgram sodiumnitroprusside (SNP)/ml blood and the PO2 for halfsaturation of haemoglobin at standard pH and temperature was measured. There was no significant shift of the oxygen dissociation curve. Erythrocyte 2, 3 DPG and met-Hb concentrations did not show significant differences between SNP-treated and control blood. Although the red cells and the haemoglobin are involved in the metabolism of SNP, in clinical doses SNP does not alter the oxygen affinity.