Methemoglobin Activity Explains Rapid Increase in Oxygen Saturation Among COVID-19 Patients Healed with Chlorine Dioxide Gas in Solution

Chlorine Dioxide (ClO2) is a neutral oxidant molecule having a short life-span once in contact with electron donors (organic matter). ClO2 solutions have antiviral, antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, anticancer and wound healing activity and it was used at safe concentrations with patients of different countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. In Mexico 1067 COVID-19 patients received compassionate treatments with ClO2 during the 2020/2021 pandemic years. We describe the treatments and clinical report of these patients, as it concerns the Oxygen saturation (SpO2) recovery and we give a biochemical explanation. The number of healed patients was 1057, >99% of the total and SpO2 showed a hyperbolic fast increase. This happens because ClO2 attracts one electron from the organic matter and produces a Chlorite anion (ClO2-). This new molecule has a known metabolic activity in the blood stream. On the one side, it will have the mentioned anti-viral, antibiotic and the other behaviors but it will also allow producing Oxygen (O2) to be transported by the hemoglobin. This reaction is mediated by an intermediate state of a Ferryl molecule (Fe=O) in the allosteric site of methemoglobin, which behaves as a reductase enzyme. This reaction explains the rapid and steady increase of O2-saturation in healed patients.