CLINICAL STUDIES OF THE BLOOD VOLUME. VIII. MACROCYTIC AND HYPOCHROMIC ANEMIAS DUE TO CHRONIC BLOOD LOSS, HEMOLYSIS AND MISCELLANEOUS CAUSES, AND POLYCYTHEMIA VERA 1

Abstract

Early studies of the blood volume in secondary anemia leave considerable doubt concerning the actual state of the blood volume and the relation thereof to the severity of the anemia. Keith, Rowntree and Geraghty (1) concluded from the results obtained with the original dye method that "considerable variation exists in the total blood volume and plasma volume in cases of secondary anemia." Subsequent limited studies utilizing modifications of both the carbon monoxide and the dye method have found plasma increased (1, 2, 3 and 4), normal, or not increased (1, 5, 6 and 7). Total blood volume was considered as in- creased despite decreased red cell volume (2, 3 and 4), within normal limits (1) or decreased (3, 4, 5, 6 and 7). In chlorosis total blood volume was found to be high (3 and 8), or decreased (2).