What is the difference between hematocrit and hemoglobin content

Recently, some trials have shown that patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who received an inhibitor of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 in addition to conventional therapy had significantly lower rates of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality than did patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who received a placebo in addition to conventional therapy 32 , 33 , In addition, Hct level of An increase in the level of Hct up to Lee et al.

In their study, blood viscosity was an independent variable of carotid IMT in multivariate analysis, while Hct was not an independent variable of carotid IMT 5.

Kawamoto et al. The roles of Hct, Hb and RBCs in vascular structure need to be confirmed in future in large clinical trials. In the present study, the groups with high levels of Hct, Hb and RBCs had vascular smooth muscle dysfunction but not abnormal vascular structure. It is well known that alteration of vascular function occurs before changes in vascular structure.

Cohort studies have shown that a high Hct level per se was associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease 1 , 2 , 3. Our study has a number of limitations. First, this study is a cross-sectional design. Therefore, we cannot define causal relationships of Hct, Hb and RBCs with vascular dysfunction and abnormal vascular structure. Further studies are needed to confirm the effects of changes in levels of Hct, Hb and RBCs on vascular function and structure in long-term follow-up periods using a prospective study design.

Second, we evaluated the relationships of Hct, Hb and RBCs with vascular function and structure only in men. We had no information on menstrual cycle when measuring vascular function and structure. Therefore, we excluded women as study subjects. Further studies are needed to confirm the relationships of levels of Hct, Hb and RBCs with vascular function and structure in women including premenopausal women as well as men after adjustment of the menstrual cycle.

The use of criteria for vascular dysfunction is a better way to calculate the odds ratio. However, diagnostic criteria for endothelial dysfunction assessed by FMD and vascular smooth muscle dysfunction assessed by NID have not been established.

Increases in the levels of Hct, Hb and RBCs within normal ranges may decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease. Hct level of Between September and June , a total of men were recruited for measurement of vascular function from subjects who underwent health-screening examinations or who visited the outpatient clinic at Hiroshima University Hospital.

One hundred eighty-six of the men, including 59 patients with infection, 50 patients with advanced cancer, 11 patients with bleeding, 35 patients with end-stage renal disease, 16 patients who had received prednisolone treatment, and 15 patients with hematologic disease, were excluded. Finally, men were enrolled in this study. Hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure of more than mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure of more than 90 mm Hg in a sitting position, on at least three different occasions.

DM was defined according to the American Diabetes Association or a previous diagnosis of diabetes 37 , Dyslipidemia was defined according to the third report of the National Cholesterol Education Program All methods were carried out in accordance with relevant guidelines and regulations.

Written informed consent for participation in the study was obtained from all of the subjects. All methods were performed in accordance with the relevant guidelines and regulations overseen by the Ethical Committee in Hiroshima University.

Subjects fasted the previous night for at least 12 h and the study began at a. A gauge polyethylene catheter was inserted into the left deep antecubital vein to obtain blood samples.

The observers were blind to the form of examination Vascular response to reactive hyperemia in the brachial artery was used for assessment of endothelium-dependent FMD. The response to nitroglycerine was used for assessment of endothelium-independent vasodilation. NID was measured as described previously Additional details are available in the online-only Data Supplement.

Aortic compliance was assessed noninvasively on the basis of Doppler ultrasound measurements of PWV along the descending thoracoabdominal aorta, as previously published and validated Associations between variables were determined by Spearman rank correlation analysis. Cut-off values of Hct, Hb and RBCs were evaluated on the basis of receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis using the Youden index. We performed formal tests of linearity for the relation between Hct and NID.

The R 2 value of the quadratic model of Hct was better than that of the linear model of Hct 0. Thus, the model with Hct as a quadratic function gives a better fit. Peak Hct of Peak Hct was used to determine the Hct range of The peaks of Hb and RBCs were used to determine the ranges of Age, body mass index BMI , current smoking and presence of hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes mellitus were entered into the multiple logistic regression analysis.

Cary, NC. Gagnon, D. Hematocrit and the risk of cardiovascular disease—the Framingham study: A year follow-up. Heart J. Toss, F. Association between hematocrit in late adolescence and subsequent myocardial infarction in Swedish men.

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Giannattasio, C. Effects of hematocrit changes on flow-mediated and metabolic vasodilation in humans. Hypertension 40 , 74—77 Thorling, E. Blood 31 , — Takemoto, M. Rho-kinase mediates hypoxia-induced downregulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase. Circulation , 57— What Is the Difference Between Hematocrit and Hemoglobin Hematocrit and hemoglobin measurements are both blood tests but they are not testing the same thing. Hematocrit is the percentage of red cells in your blood.

Hemoglobin enables red cells to transport oxygen and carbon dioxide throughout your body. Normal hemoglobin for men ranges from Normal range for women is Schedule an appointment. Why Donations Are So Important Recent studies show that there is a need for blood transfusions every 2 seconds.

Learn More About Blood Components. Learn More. Normocytic indices occur in anemias resulting from deficient erythropoietin EPO production or inadequate response to it hypoproliferative anemias. Hemorrhage, before iron deficiency develops, usually results in normocytic and normochromic anemia unless the number of large reticulocytes is excessive.

The peripheral smear is highly sensitive for excessive RBC production and hemolysis. It is more accurate than automated technologies for recognition of altered RBC structure, thrombocytopenia, nucleated RBCs, or immature granulocytes and can detect other abnormalities eg, malaria and other parasites, intracellular RBC or granulocyte inclusions that can occur despite normal automated blood cell counts.

RBC injury may be identified by finding RBC fragments, portions of disrupted cells schistocytes , or evidence of significant membrane alterations from oval-shaped cells ovalocytes or spherocytic cells. Target cells thin RBCs with a central dot of hemoglobin are RBCs with insufficient hemoglobin or excess cell membrane eg, due to hemoglobinopathies or liver disorders.

The peripheral smear can also reveal variation in RBC shape poikilocytosis and size anisocytosis. The reticulocyte count is expressed as the percentage of reticulocytes normal range, 0. The reticulocyte count is a crucial test in the evaluation of anemia because it informs about the response of the bone marrow and facilitates differentiation between deficient erythropoiesis RBC production and excessive hemolysis RBC destruction as the cause of anemia.

For example, higher values indicate excessive production reticulocytosis ; in the presence of anemia, reticulocytosis suggests excessive RBC destruction. Low numbers in the presence of anemia indicate decreased RBC production. Reticulocytes are best visualized when blood is stained with a supravital stain, but because red cell reticulin is composed of RNA, which is present only in young red cells, they will have a bluish appearance in a Wright-stained blood smear polychromatophilia or polychromasia , which can provide a rough estimate of reticulocyte production on a routine blood smear.

Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy provide direct observation and assessment of RBC precursors. The presence of abnormal maturation dyspoiesis of blood cells and the amount, distribution, and cellular pattern of iron content can be assessed.

Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy are usually not indicated in the evaluation of anemia and are only done when one of the following conditions is present:. More than one cell lineage abnormality ie, concurrent anemia and thrombocytopenia or leukopenia.

Suspected primary bone marrow disorder eg, leukemia, multiple myeloma, aplastic anemia, myelodysplastic syndrome, metastatic carcinoma, myelofibrosis. Cytogenetic and molecular analyses can be done on aspirate material in hematopoietic or other tumors or in suspected congenital lesions of RBC precursors eg, Fanconi anemia. Flow cytometry can be done in suspected lymphoproliferative or myeloproliferative states to define the immunophenotype.

Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy are not technically difficult and do not pose significant risk of morbidity. These procedures are safe and helpful when hematologic disease is suspected. Both usually can be done as a single procedure.

Because biopsy requires adequate bone depth, the sample is usually taken from the posterior or, less commonly, anterior iliac crest. Serum bilirubin and lactate dehydrogenase LDH can sometimes help differentiate between hemolysis and blood loss; both are elevated in hemolysis and normal in blood loss.

Other tests, such as vitamin B12 and folate levels, iron and iron binding capacity, are done depending on the suspected cause of anemia. Other tests are discussed under specific anemias and bleeding disorders.

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Learn more about our commitment to Global Medical Knowledge. This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here. Common Health Topics. Videos Figures Images Quizzes Symptoms. Risk factors for anemia Symptoms of anemia Symptoms that suggest cause of anemia. Physical Examination.

Complete blood count and RBC indices Peripheral smear Reticulocyte count Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy Other tests for evaluation of anemia.

Approach to the Patient With Anemia. Test your knowledge. A year-old girl is brought to the clinic by her father because she has had pain in her right upper leg for the past 3 months. On physical examination, the patient is unable to bear weight on the limb.