All of us address to doctors, and the first, from whatour communication begins - these are laboratory studies. And if for a specialist the data indicated on the results obtained is clear, then an ordinary person often confuses even a simple interpretation of the blood test. HCT - this is the way now designate such a parameter as hematocrit - is an important indicator of human health. Let's talk more about it.
Hematocrit is one of the conditionalblood counts. It shows the percentage of the mass of erythrocytes to the total volume of the biological fluid. The indicator HCT (blood test), the decoding of which can also be interpreted as a ratio of all blood elements to plasma, more often still determines the volume of red blood cells, because they account for 99% of the total number of blood cells.
Официальное название этого параметра — hematocrit number, and in popular speech it is often called the "density of blood". The hematocrit is a bulb that is used for centrifuging a biomaterial, but its name has become so well established that it is often used in official medicine.
As is known, the blood consists of plasma (liquidparts) and cells. Plasma is a water in which proteins, enzymes, hormones, microelements are dissolved. The cells represented by red blood cells, leukocytes and platelets, have a different structure and perform dissimilar functions. When the blood test is decoded, the HCT is determined visually. For the analysis, the selected venous or capillary blood is placed in a test tube and, after adding an anticoagulant to it, it is centrifuged. In this case, denser and heavier cells settle. The lower layer is made up of erythrocytes, the average is leukocytes and platelets, and plasma remains above. After that, a measurement takes place. So, for example, if the result indicates that 40% HCT (blood test), the transcript will mean that in a test tube with 100 μl of blood after it was passed through a centrifuge, 40 μl take up red blood cells.
To date, there are two methods,how can a hematocrit be determined. Do this with a centrifuge (in this case, the indicators will be indicated in percent) and using an automatic hematology analyzer. At the last study, the decoding of the total HCT blood test will be determined as the ratio of liters to liters (l / l). It will look like this:
Hematocrit is not a constant indicator.In men, it is often higher than that of women. What are the normal indicators of HCT? The analysis of blood (transcript) in children of the first year of life often shows significant differences from that in adults. As the patient grows up, this value gradually decreases. Pregnancy also has an effect on this indicator. Under normal conditions, the hematocrit slightly decreases.
The following HCT values are considered normal (blood test, decoding):
As you can see, the indicators are quite widescatter. In addition, considering the results, you need to consider that they can be influenced by external factors. So, for example, taking certain medicinal substances (alpha-interferon, drugs that dilute the blood) can significantly affect the result.
When the blood test is decoded, HCT is one of its mandatory indicators, so it is always evaluated. Diagnostic value of this indicator is in the following cases:
In addition, when heavy patients areinterpretation of the blood test, HCT allows you to determine the presence of internal bleeding, the level of dehydration. It is also an important indicator for patients after a blood transfusion, as it helps to evaluate the effectiveness of the measures taken.
The most common decrease in hematocrit can be observedwith hypoplastic anemia. With this disease, the level of HCT can be reduced to 15-25%. Symptomatically, this can be manifested by constant fatigue, headaches, dizziness, weakness. From the side of the cardiovascular system, there are tachycardia (rapid heart rate), dyspnea. Externally, the pallor of the skin, hair loss, brittle nails.
Еще одной причиной низкого гематокрита может become hyperhydration. This pathology, characterized by an excessive amount of water in the blood, can result from kidney failure, poisoning, viral or infectious diseases.
Hyperproteinemia (increase in the amount of protein inblood) may also be accompanied by a low hematocrit number. The cause of the increase in blood proteins are liver pathologies (hepatitis, cirrhosis), malignant tumors, prolonged fever, intoxication, chronic heart and kidney disease.
Снижение показателей гематокрита при беременности has a physiological character. However, from a gynecologist, who leads a pregnancy, it is necessary to determine in a timely manner when the lower indices indicate the development of anemia. It is for this purpose that a blood test is regularly done. HCT (norm) in women waiting for a child varies from 31 to 35%. Its increase above 36% may signal dehydration, and indicators above 40% already indicate pronounced hypovolemia (a decrease in the volume of circulating blood). The cause of this can be a constant vomiting, swelling, excessive use of salts.
A decrease in hematocrit in a pregnant woman below 30% mayto be a signal of increasing anemia, which means that the cells are not getting enough nutrients and oxygen. In addition, it leads to excessive stress on the heart, kidneys and other organs. Another reason for the decrease in hematocrit may be overhydration caused by the introduction of large amounts of intravenous fluids.
When finding the hematocrit at the markabove 55%, we can talk about its increase. First of all it means that there are too many cellular elements in the blood, that is, its viscosity increases. It threatens with increased thrombosis. Thrombosis can lead to the development of complications that can be fatal. The following conditions can be the cause of elevated hematocrit:
Despite all of the above, moderatean increase or decrease in hematocrit is not always a sign of the development of any pathology. Its increase may be due to a slight dehydration of the body. Often this affects sedentary people who consume little liquid. Elevated hematocrit may result from excessive sweating, diarrhea, or vomiting.
High HCT can be observed among people living at high altitudes. The reason for this is constant hypoxia. Adapting to it, the body increases the number of red blood cells.
Hematocrit is elevated in athletes using anabolic steroids. If the blood test showed HCT above 50% (0.5), then the athlete is not allowed to compete as a doping user.
Smoking can also cause increasedhematocrit. This habit causes the body to be in a state of constant oxygen starvation, which stimulates the production of red blood cells. As a result, the hematocrit increases, so even in a healthy smoker it will be higher than in a non-smoker.
