Haemoconcentration associated with low vitamin A status can mask anaemia

Acta Trop. 2002 Oct;84(1):55-8. doi: 10.1016/s0001-706x(02)00132-8.

Abstract

As part of a pig study to elucidate the interactions between low vitamin A status and helminth infections, surprisingly, we observed higher haemoglobin levels and packed cell volumes in the pigs with low vitamin A status. A possible haemoconcentration effect, due to some disturbance in the regulation of the extracellular fluid volume, could lead to underestimation of the prevalence of anaemia in vitamin A deficient human populations. Therefore, this phenomenon needs to be further clarified in studies involving determination of plasma volumes.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anemia / blood
  • Anemia / etiology*
  • Animals
  • Ascaris suum
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Hemoglobins / analysis*
  • Nematode Infections / blood
  • Nematode Infections / complications*
  • Swine
  • Trichuris
  • Vitamin A Deficiency / complications*
  • Vitamin A Deficiency / parasitology

Substances

  • Hemoglobins