title: Low hemoglobin levels during normovolemia are associated with electrocardiographic changes in pigs.
abstract: We studied whether low hemoglobin concentrations during normovolemia change the myocardial electrical current (electrocardiogram) in a pig model. Normovolemic anemia was achieved by stepwise replacing blood with colloids (hydroxyethyl starch 6%). We measured the length of the PQ-, QT-, QTc, and the ST interval as well as the amplitude of the Q wave and T wave at hemoglobin concentrations of 9.5, 8.0, 5.5, 3.8, and 3.3 g·dL. Normovolemic anemia is accompanied by a gradual prolongation of the QT and QTc interval and a reduction in the amplitude of the T wave. The QRS complex is partly diminished in amplitude. Results were verified performing a time-frequency analysis on single heartbeats. During severe anemia and normovolemia, electrocardiographic changes can be detected. Further investigations are warranted to elucidate whether these changes indicate myocardial hypoxia.
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Anesthesiology, Intensive Care Medicine and Pain Therapy, University Hospital, Frankfurt, Germany. scheller@em.unifrankfurt.de
authors.forename: Bertram
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Scheller
authors.forename: Gordon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pipa
authors.forename: Harry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kertscho
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lauscher
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ehrlich
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Habler
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zacharowski
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Meier
mesh_terms: D000740:Anemia / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006438:Hemodilution; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins