Severe chronic Carboxyhemoglobinemia and polycythemia due to smoking hookah

Acute carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning due to smoking hookah has been reported and may present similarly to other causes of acute carbon monoxide poisoning with nausea, headache, and loss of consciousness [1]. In the acute poisoned patient, immediate removal from the carbon monoxide source is paramount in addition to administration of oxygen and possible hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) in certain situations. However, cases of chronic CO poisoning, treatment options, and long-term adverse health effects are far less reported but may include atherosclerosis and vague neurologic symptoms [2]. We present a case of a patient who chronically smoked hookah creating a condition of chronic carboxyhemoglobinemia which was discovered during work up for unexplained polycythemia. While being seen in the hematology clinic, he was found to have a blood carboxyhemoglobin of level 33.6% despite being asymptomatic. This is the highest recorded hookah-related carboxyhemoglobin concentration in the medical literature; and the significant chronic carboxyhemoglobinemia explained his polycythemia. This case illustrates that a social history is crucial when assessing the patient with severe carboxyhemoglobinemia as HBO is not indicated in chronic CO poisoning in an asymptomatic patient.