Effect of hyperchylomicronemia on the measurement of hemoglobin.

The effects of plasma triglyceride levels on the measurement of hemoglobin and other erythrocyte indices have been studied in blood samples from ten healthy controls, 11 patients with type IV hyperlipoproteinemia, and five patients with hyperchylomicronemia (type I or V). Measurements were made using erythrocytes in their own plasmas and repeated after resuspension of the cells in physiologic saline solution. Hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration were decreased by removal of plasma in erythrocytes from three patients with hyperchylomicronemia. It is concluded that the triglyceride contained in very-low-density lipoprotein does not affect hemoglobin measurement, while triglyceride contained in chylomicrons increased hemoglobin readings linearly.