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CHANGES IN THE CIRCULATING BLOOD IN MAN FOLLOWING BLOOD LOSS OR TRANSFUSION OF CONCENTRATED RED CELLS
Author(s) -
Dyson M.,
Plaiut G.,
Vaughan Janet
Publication year - 1944
Publication title -
quarterly journal of experimental physiology and cognate medical sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.925
H-Index - 101
eISSN - 1469-445X
pISSN - 0033-5541
DOI - 10.1113/expphysiol.1944.sp000888
Subject(s) - mean corpuscular volume , blood volume , dilution , chemistry , blood proteins , red blood cell , hemoglobin , medicine , biochemistry , physics , thermodynamics
1. In assessing the significance of changes in hæmoglobin, total red cells, mean corpuscular volume, and serum protein in any individual. the importance of possible changes in plasma volume must be considered. A fall in hæmoglobin or red cells may be due to dilution as well as to actual blood loss. Blood loss may occur without affecting the hæmoglobin level. 2. In estimating the amount of fluid that has passed from the tissues into the circulation, the amount absorbed by the red cells is significant and must be taken into account. 3. There is considerable variation in the response of different individuals to the removal of 540 c. c. of blood or to the administration of 450‐520 c. c. of concentrated red cells. We are grateful to Dr. C. M. Scott, Imperial Chemical Industries. for a supply of Evans blue dye. Observations on the changes in red cells, hæmoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, serum protein, and plasma volume in a two‐hour period following the removal of 540 c. c. of blood were made on 8 normal subjects and following the transfusion of concentrated red cells on 8 anæmic subjects. Following the removal of blood in one instance the plasma volume was that calculated, in others dilution or over‐dilution were noted. Dilution following blood loss was associated with an increase in mean corpuscular volume, suggesting that some of the fluid passing in from the tissues was absorbed by the red cells. No increase in serum protein was noted. In some cases there was a significant fall. In assessing the significance of changes in hæmoglobin, total red‐cell count, mean corpuscular volume, and serum protein in any individual, the possibility of changes in plasma volume must therefore be considered. A fall in hæomoglobin or red cells may be due to dilution as well as to actual blood loss. Blood loss may occur without affecting the hæmoglobin level. In estimating the amount of fluid that has passed from the tissues into the circulation, the amount absorbed by the red cells is significant and must be taken into account. There is clearly considerable variation in the response of different individuals to the removal of 540 c. c. of blood or to the administration of 400‐500 c. c. of concentrated red cells.