Q: What's the relationship between hypothermia and hematocrit?
Answer:
Hypothermia can affect a wide range of laboratory finding and most of the abnormalities in lab are proportional to the degree of hypothermia. With each 1°C drop in temperature the hematocrit increases by 2 percent.
Clinical significance: A low normal hematocrit is considered abnormal in severe hypothermia.
#hypothermia
#hematology
Reference:
Mallet ML. Pathophysiology of accidental hypothermia. QJM 2002; 95:775.
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