title: Haematology studies during a 350-metre dive.
abstract: Routine haematological monitoring of 6 deep-sea divers was performed pre-dive, during the three phases of the 350 m working dive, and at two post-dive medical examinations. In the compression phase a small percentage (less than 5%) of each subject's red cells became non-discoid in shape and this trend continued during the 6 d at 350 m. Concomitantly each subject was mildly dehydrated by compression diuresis and had a raised haematocrit (+5%); all other haematological parameters remained within normal limits. The number of morphologically aberrant cells continued to increase during decompression but were not present at the 1 month post-dive medical examination. The subjects' mean relative reticulocyte number was decreased during the dive to 0.4%, showing a rapid and sustained increase to 2.1% at both post-dive examinations. The red cell count was reduced by 10% during the course of the dive. Hb concentration and haematocrit evidenced no differences between the pre- or post-dive measurements.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D004242:Diving; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000097:blood; D004906:Erythrocyte Count; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010710:Phosphates / Q000097:blood; D013997:Time Factors; D014508:Urea / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D001798:Blood Proteins; D004573:Electrolytes; D006454:Hemoglobins; D010710:Phosphates; D014508:Urea; D002784:Cholesterol; D003404:Creatinine; D002118:Calcium