Hematologic changes in man during decompression: relations to overt decompression sickness and bubble scores.

In order to determine whether asymtomatic gas phase separation causes hematologic abnormalities, studies were carried out following two dive series, one to 210 feet of sea water (FSW) for 50 min and the other to 132 FSW for 30 min. Studies included white and red cell count, red cell indices, platelet count, ESR, fibrinogen, fibrin split products, prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time, coagulation factors II, V, VII, VIII, and X, clot retraction, platelet aggregation and adhesion, euglobulin lysis time, and platelet factor III. Changes were seen in platelet and white cell count, prothrombin time and partial thrombo-plastin time. White cell count was the only variable which correlated with total bubble score. The results are presented and implications of the findings discussed.