Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

At 07:54 AM 3/29/2006, heidi@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
> > >So here's a question, are horses red blood cells larger than humans?
> >
> >
> > No, they're smaller.  Human rbcs have an MCV (Mean corpuscular
> > volume) of approx 90; I believe equine rbcs have an MCV of about 
> 60.  (Heidi?)
>
> I can't speak for humans, but yes, 60 is actually on the high side for
> horses.

Reference range for adults is 80-100; small kids can be a little lower (70s)

> If horse blood is left standing still, horse RBCs do tend to "stack" and
> therefore settle out much more quickly than other species, though

ESR or Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (or Sed Rate). Usually <10 in 
humans; don't know for horses (do you have a figure, Heidi?)  A 
higher sed rate in humans usually means inflammation somewhere (well, 
it means increased plasma proteins, which is frequently the effect of 
that cause)  Also multiple myeloma and a few other things.  In 
horses, they seem to use Fibrinogen to 'test' for 
inflammation...no?  Fibrinogen can be increased in many human 
illnesses, but it's usually just seen as an incidental finding; it 
isn't tested for to determine inflammation.

Is everybody bored yet?

terre

> Blood is somewhat viscous, which DOES make it tougher to draw 
> through a really tiny needle (such as a 25 or smaller) but that's 
> true of all species.

PS--we often use a 25 to draw infants and toddlers--but hemolysis of 
the red cells is a concern,



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