Is hemoglobin desaturation related to blood viscosity in athletes during exercise?
Several studies have suggested that athletes with low hemoglobin saturation during exercise may experience impaired pulmonary blood gas exchange during maximal exercise. Blood viscosity may be implicated in exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage in race horses. We hypothesized that blood rheology may contribute to impaired gas exchange and reduced hemoglobin saturation during exercise in humans. A group of 20 highly trained endurance athletes participated in this study, 9 with low hemoglobin saturation during exercise (Low-SpO (2) group) and 11 with normal hemoglobin saturation (High-SpO (2) group). All subjects performed a progressive exercise test conducted to V.O (2max). Venous blood was sampled at rest, 50 % V.O (2max) and maximal exercise. Blood viscosity (etab) was measured at very high shear rate (1000 s (-1)) and 37 degrees C with a falling ball viscometer. The erythrocyte rigidity coefficient, “Tk”, was calculated using the Dintenfass equation. At rest, no significant differenc
