Some observations on haematocrit changes in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Changes in haematocrit in patients with acute myocardial infarction are the subject of several reports. Burch and DePasquale (1962) and DePasquale and Burch (1963) suggested that the peripheral venous haematocrit was raised in acute myocardial infarction. This was not confirmed by subsequent studies (Conley et al., 1964; Vuopio and Eisalo, 1964) but has recently been supported (Stables et al., 1967). It has also been suggested that a fall in haematocrit may occur during the first few days of the acute illness (Conley et al., 1964; Vuopio and Eisalo, 1964). With recent interest in the treatment of cardiac infarction by infusions of various solutions, the physiology of haematocrit and plasma volume be-