Peripheral venous hemoglobin (Hb) measurements are considered to accurately reflect circulating red blood cell mass (RBCM). In volume overload decompensated chronic heart failure (DCHF), reliance on Hb values may be misleading. Using quantitative radiolabel blood volume analysis (BVA), we evaluated the relation of RBCM to volume overload and reliability of Hb measurements to reflect RBC status in patients hospitalized for DCHF. Of 32 patients evaluated (LVEF <50 %), 19 met WHO Hb criteria for anemia. By BVA, however, only 4/19 had true anemia (low Hb and low RBCM) while 15/19 demonstrated plasma volume expansion dilution-related "anemia" (6 low Hb/normal RBCM, 9 low Hb/excess RBCM). The remaining 13/32 had normal range Hb (12 with excess RBCM). Overall, 66 % of cohort demonstrated RBCM excess. RBC profiles are highly variable in DCHF, and peripheral Hb values are often misleading in identifying RBC status. These findings have implications for volume management.
Keywords: Chronic heart failure; Quantitative blood volume analysis; Red blood cell mass; Volume overload.