ABSTRACT
Generally, patient s wit h high oxyge n affinit y hemoglobi n ar e discovered becaus e
they hav e highe r tha n norma l hematocrit; tha t is , the y hav e increase d level s o f
red bloo d cells . Thi s presumabl y occur s because th e abnorma l hemoglobin can -
not giv e u p sufficien t amount s o f oxyge n t o th e periphera l tissues , a n d th e
organism tries to compensat e fo r this defec t by producing more re d cells. I n mos t
cases thi s work s ou t wel l , an d th e patien t ca n usually lead a normal life .
