Erythrocyte Volume and Count: A Linear Relation Descriptive of Population Differences

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Abstract
In a sample of 215 adult males the mean red cell volume decreased linearly with increasing red cell concentration. The mean corpuscular volume and the red cell count were found uncorrelated with age of subject. Of these subjects 69 were identified as smokers and 114 as nonsmokers. Linear regression analysis showed negative linear relation for the smoking-defined groups, with slopes judged to be no different. When the regression lines were constrained to be parallel, the line for smokers was displaced upward by 2.1 f[femto]l. No difference was found in mean corpuscular Hb concentration or reticulocyte count. Hematocrit, Hb, mean corpuscular Hb were also reported. Viscosity of blood was greater in smokers. Optical determination of cell volume and area confirmed the linear relation of volume and count.