Red Cell Oxygen Affinity in Severe Hypertriglyceridemia 1

Abstract

Summary

The clinical manifestations of impaired oxygen transport in severely hyper-triglyceridemic patients have been attributed to a reversible increase in red cell oxygen affinity (low P ₅₀) in recent studies. In seven patients with comparably lipemic plasma (triglyceride levels 970-6600 mg/dl) the mean standard P ₅₀ measured by the mixing technique was normal. However when measurements were repeated on three of the samples using the Duvelleroy dissociation curve apparatus, the measured P ₅₀ was decreased by 5-9 torr. This difference was secondary to a time dependent interference of the lipemic plasma with the blood O₂ electrode, increasing the blood-gas O₂ correction factor. The red cell oxygen affinity of subjects with severe hypertriglyceridemia is normal and other explanations need be sought for the clinical observations suggesting a decrease in tissue oxygen delivery.