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NORMAL HÆMATOLOGICAL STANDARDS AT AN ALTITUDE OF 5740 FEET (WITWATERSRAND, SOUTH AFRICA)
Author(s) -
Lurie H. I.
Publication year - 1945
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.1945.sp000903
Subject(s) - mean corpuscular volume , red cell , altitude (triangle) , hemoglobin , mean corpuscular hemoglobin , red blood cell , zoology , chemistry , biology , medicine , mathematics , biochemistry , geometry
The results of this study indicate that at an altitude of 5740 feet the number of red cells and the hæmoglobin content of the blood is higher than at sea‐level. The hæmoglobin rises proportionately with the red‐cell count. Each red cell contains as much as or slightly more hæmoglobin than does a red cell at sea‐level. The red‐cell volume is slightly larger, although its diameter is a little smaller. The thickness is greater than that of an average red cell at sea‐level. These findings therefore suggest a tendency to a diminution in the diameter: thickness ratio. At high levels compensation occurs not only by an increase in the number of erythrocytes, but also by an increase in the volume and hæmoglobin content of each cell. 1. A hæmatological study is described, based on the examination of normal European males and females, 30 of each sex, between the ages of eighteen and forty years, living at an altitude of 5740 feet. 2. Normal values have been determined for the hæmoglobin, red‐cell count, packed cell volume, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hæmoglobin, mean corpuscular hæmoglobin concentration, mean corpuscular diameter, and mean corpuscular average thickness. 3. The mean red‐cell count for males has been found to be 5·593 millions per c.mm. and 4·999 millions per c.mm. for females, with hæmoglobin values of 17·76 g. per cent. and 15·33 g. per cent. respectively. The male red cell has a mean volume of 89·58 c.µ, and a mean corpuscular hæmoglobin of 31·69 γγ. The female red cell has a mean volume of 90·42 c.µ and a mean corpuscular hæmoglobin of 30·65 γγ. The mean diameter has been found to be 7·0074 µ and the mean thickness 2·26 µ. 4. These results have been compared with those of previous workers on the Witwatersrand, and other records found at similar altitudes in other parts of the world. 5. The normal values obtained for this altitude have been compared with the normal values at sea‐level.