Definition Cyanide toxicity causes uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation, interrupting aerobic metabolism and forcing a shift to anaerobic metabolism, leading to decreased O2 consumption, elevated lactate and severe metabolic acidosis. Cyanide enters the body as gaseous HCN, water-soluble K-CN and Na-CN, and poorly soluble salts with Hg, Cu, Au, and Ag.  Cyanogens, such as cyanogen-Br or […]