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A hemoglobin test measures the amount of hemoglobin in your blood. If a hemoglobin tests shows that a person's levels are below normal, it means they have a low red blood cell count, which is known as anemia. If the test shows higher levels than normal, it means they have hemoglobinemia. [citation needed] The normal range for hemoglobin is:
Polycythemia is sometimes called erythrocytosis, and there is significant overlap in the two findings, but the terms are not the same: polycythemia describes any increase in hematocrit and/or hemoglobin, while erythrocytosis describes an increase specifically in the number of red blood cells in the blood.
In addition, increased glycated of hemoglobin increases its affinity for oxygen, therefore preventing its release at the tissue and inducing a level of hypoxia in extreme cases. [89] Elevated levels of hemoglobin are associated with increased numbers or sizes of red blood cells, called polycythemia.
These components comprise hemoglobin and others. [3] At this stage, the hemoglobin is called free hemoglobin. [3] Free hemoglobin (also called naked hemoglobin) is the un-bound hemoglobin that is not enclosed in the red blood cell. The naked hemoglobin is devoid of its anti-oxidant sentries that are normally available within the RBC. [5]
Glycated hemoglobin causes an increase of highly reactive free radicals inside blood cells, altering the properties of their cell membranes. This leads to blood cell aggregation and increased blood viscosity , which results in impaired blood flow.
Other disorders which cause macrocytosis without DNA replication problems (i.e., non-megaloblastic macrocytic anemias), are disorders associated with increased red cell membrane surface area, such as pathologies of the liver and spleen which produce codocytes or "target cells" which have a central collection of hemoglobin surrounded by a pallor (a thin area) then followed by a thicker ...
Causes of increased breakdown include genetic disorders such as sickle cell anemia, infections such as malaria, and certain autoimmune diseases like autoimmune hemolytic anemia. [ 1 ] Anemia can also be classified based on the size of the red blood cells and amount of hemoglobin in each cell . [ 1 ]
Elevated levels of methemoglobin in the blood are caused when the mechanisms that defend against oxidative stress within the red blood cell are overwhelmed and the oxygen carrying ferrous ion (Fe 2+) of the heme group of the hemoglobin molecule is oxidized to the ferric state (Fe 3+). This converts hemoglobin to methemoglobin, resulting in a ...