Haemoconcentration associated with low vitamin A status can mask anaemia.
As part of a pig study to elucidate the interactions between low vitamin A status and helminth infections, surprisingly, we observed higher haemoglobin levels and packed cell volumes in the pigs with low vitamin A status. A possible haemoconcentration effect, due to some disturbance in the regulation of the extracellular fluid volume, could lead to underestimation of the prevalence of anaemia in vitamin A deficient human populations. Therefore, this phenomenon needs to be further clarified in studies involving determination of plasma volumes.
Pedersen
Søren
S
Danish Centre for Experimental Parasitology, The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Dyrlaegevej 100, DK- 1870 Frederiksberg C, Copenhagen, Denmark. soerenkpedersen@hotmail.com
Saeed
Isam
I
Jensen
Søren Krogh
SK
Michaelsen
Kim F
KF
Friis
Henrik
H
D000740:Anemia / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D000818:Animals; D017165:Ascaris suum; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis*; D009349:Nematode Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D013552:Swine; D014258:Trichuris; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000150:complications* / Q000469:parasitology
D006454:Hemoglobins