Long-term studies of hemoglobin-oxygen affinity in hypoxemic dogs with a right-to-left cardiac shunt

Long-standing hypoxemia was surgically created in dogs by inserting an aortic homograft between the inferior vena cava and right atrium. Ligation of the caval--atrial junction resulted in a right-to-left cardiac shunt. Arterial p O2 fell immediately and P50 increased within 20 min. The 2,3-diphosphoglycerate concentration rose in 4 hr following surgery, while hemoglobin concentration increased within 7 days. Alterations in hemoglobin--oxygen affinity can occur rapidly and may be beneficial compensatory responses to acute and chronic hypoxemia caused by a right-to-left cardiac shunt.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/23370/1/0000314.pd