Hemodynamic effects of anemia with and without plasma volume expansion.

Hypervolemic anemia and normovolemic anemia were produced in dogs. Cardiac outputs increased comparably with similar degrees of anemia in the hypervolemic and normovolemic animals. No significant association between light atrial mean pressure and cardiac output was found. Right atrial and pulmonary arterial pressures increased in a degree comparable to blood volume increase. Systemic mean pressures did not change significantly; there was a significant decrease in total peripheral resistance. The results are consistent with the concept that the increase in cardiac output occurring with hypervolemic anemia is related primarily to the anemia and not to the increase in blood volume.