Improved oxygen release: an adaptation of mature red cells to hypoxia

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Abstract

Blood from patients with erythrocytosis secondary to arterial hypoxemia due either to congenital heart disease or to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was shown to have a decreased affinity for oxygen; the average oxygen pressure required to produce 50% saturation of hemoglobin with oxygen was 29.8 mm Hg (average normal, 26.3 mm Hg). Such a displacement of the blood oxygen equilibrium curve promotes the release of oxygen from blood to the tissues.

Authors

Miles J. Edwards, Miles J. Novy, Carrie-Lou Walters, James Metcalfe