title: Predicting the development of anemia by measuring the diameter of the inferior vena cava of patients with spinal cord injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We retrospectively investigated whether measurement of the diameter of the inferior vena cava (IVC) is useful in predicting the development of anemia in 12 patients with spinal cord injury. Measurement of the IVC was performed in conjunction with computed tomography scan upon arrival. The subjects were divided into two groups: those with a minimum (Min) hemoglobin (Hb) of less than 10 g/dL, and those with a Min Hb greater than 10 g/dL during hospitalization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average diameter of IVC in the Hb<10 g/dL group was smaller that that in the Hb>10g/dL group. Blood pressure was not significantly different between the two groups. The difference between the Min and initial Hb value and incidence of blood transfusion in the Hb<10g/dL group was significantly greater than that in the Hb>10g/dL group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To predict the development of anemia, measurement of the IVC of patients with spinal cord injury may therefore be useful.
authors.affiliation: Department of Traumatology and Critical Care Medicine, National Defense Medical College, Saitama 359, Japan. grd1908@ndmc.ac.jp
authors.forename: Kousuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hatanaka
authors.forename: Youichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yanagawa
authors.forename: Toshihisa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sakamoto
authors.forename: Yoshiaki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Okada
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000740:Anemia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins