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
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.
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Normal Values*
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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.
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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
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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
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Operational Medicine 2001
Contents
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