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Hemoglobin (Hgb)

Hemoglobin is the active, oxygen-carrying component of red blood cells. 

This protein, when fully oxygenated, is characteristically bright red. Whenever it loses a significant amount of its' oxygen, it turns a dark blue color. It takes about 6 grams of desaturated hemoglobin to cause a noticeable change in color.

Increased in the Presence of:

  • Hemoconcentration
  • COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
  • CHF (congestive heart failure)
  • Smokers
  • Pre-eclampsia

Decreased in the Presence of:

  • Anemia
  • Hyperthyroidism
  • Chronic liver disease
  • Hemorrhage
  • Hemolysis:
    • Transfusion reaction
    • Drug/chemical reaction
    • Infection
    • Burns
    • Mechanical disruption (artificial heart valves)
  • Systemic Disease
    • Cancer
    • Lupus
    • Sardoidosis

Special Considerations

  • Carbon monoxide binds to the hemoglobin, rendering it incapable of carrying oxygen, but clinically causes the victims' blood to be bright, cherry-red
  • Smokers typically have elevated hemoglobin levels in response to chronic, low-grade carbon monoxide poisoning and other mild respiratory ailments. Because of the carbon monoxide binding, they may still be functionally anemic, even though their hemoglobin levels look good.
  • Adaptation to high altitudes includes moderate elevation of hemoglobin.
  • During the initial phases of an acute hemorrhage, the hemoglobin levels generally doesn't change very much. Later, as extracellular fluid is mobilized and IV fluids are incorporated, there is a dilutional effect that will lead to a reduced hemoglobin level. This fall in hemoglobin may take several hours to develop.

Normal Values*

  g/dl

Men

13.5-17.5
Women 12.0-16.0
Pregnancy 10.5-14.0
Newborn 14.0-20.0

*These are general values taken from a variety of sources. The actual normal values may vary from lab to lab and from one type of testing protocol to another.

 


 

 

Approved for public release; Distribution is unlimited.
The listing of any non-Federal product in this CD is not an endorsement of the product itself, but simply an acknowledgement of the source. 

Bureau of Medicine and Surgery
Department of the Navy
2300 E Street NW
Washington, D.C
20372-5300

Operational Medicine
 Health Care in Military Settings
CAPT Michael John Hughey, MC, USNR
NAVMED P-5139
  January 1, 2001

United States Special Operations Command
7701 Tampa Point Blvd.
MacDill AFB, Florida
33621-5323

*This web version is provided by The Brookside Associates Medical Education Division.  It contains original contents from the official US Navy NAVMED P-5139, but has been reformatted for web access and includes advertising and links that were not present in the original version. This web version has not been approved by the Department of the Navy or the Department of Defense. The presence of any advertising on these pages does not constitute an endorsement of that product or service by either the US Department of Defense or the Brookside Associates. The Brookside Associates is a private organization, not affiliated with the United States Department of Defense.

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Operational Medicine 2001
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