ABSTRACT
This chapter outlines main haematology and biochemistry results. Blood is a transport mechanism, so its contents reflect body activity. Blood has three types of cells: erythrocytes, leukocytes, and platelets. Haemoglobin transports nearly all oxygen in arterial blood, so low haemoglobin reduces oxygen-carrying capacity. There are three types of granulocytes: neutrophils, basophils, and eosinophils. There are two types of agranulocytes: lymphocytes – T and B cells, and monocytes. Hypoalbuminaemia and low levels of other plasma proteins is multifactorial, caused by: catabolism provoking protein metabolism, malnutrition, and liver hypofunction. Activated prothromin time, which measures the extrinsic clotting pathway – clotting factors released from vascular endothelium. D-dimers are fibrin degradation products, released by fibrinolysis. The main urea and electrolyte results used in ICU are: C-reactive protein, sodium, chloride, potassium, glucose, phosphate, magnesium, calcium, creatinine and urea. Creatinine therefore provides the best guide to renal function and is used to estimate glomerular filtration rate.
