Pseudohypoxemia Secondary to Leukemia and Thrombocytosis

Abstract

IN the interval between drawing of arterial blood and analysis of blood-gas composition, partial pressure of oxygen (PO2) and pH fall, and the partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PCO2) rises; the rate of these changes is dependent on the temperature.1 , 2 In addition, the rate of fall in partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood (PaO2) depends on the initial level of PaO2 and also roughly correlates with the white-cell count.2 3 4 There are no data, however, concerning the effect of the specific cellular composition of blood on values of arterial blood gas. This investigation . . .