Abstract
Summary
(1) In all 16 patients in this study there was a lowering of the erythrocyte count, hemoglobin and hematocrit during the 4 to 10 days that estrogen was administered.
On cessation of estrogen therapy there was a subsequent return to the initial blood constituent levels within a period of 5 to 8 days. (2) Evans Blue dye studies made in 3 of the 16 women demonstrated that the blood volume increased sufficiently to account for the lowering of the red cell count, hemoglobin and hematocrit. (3) During short periods of estrogen therapy there may be a significant hemodilution. Further studies are necessary to determine whether this effect is transitory or whether it may be maintained indefinitely.
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