Hematology and biochemical findings of Spacelab 1 flightThe changes in erythropoiesis in astronauts caused by weightlessness was experimentally studied during the Spacelab 1 flight. Immediately after landing showed a mean decrease of 9,3 percent in the four astronauts. Neither hyperoxia nor an increase in blood phosphate caused the decrease. Red cell survival time and iron incorporation postflight were not significantly different from their preflight levels. Serum haptoglobin did not decrease, indicating that intravascular hemolysis was not a major cause of red cell mass change. An increase in serum ferritin after the second day of flight may have been caused by red cell breakdown early in flight. The space flight-induced decrease in red cell mass may result from a failure of erythropoesis to replace cells destroyed by the spleen soon after weightlessness is attained.
Document ID
19920055523
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Authors
Leach, Carolyn S. (NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Chen, J. P. (Tennessee, University Knoxville, United States)
Crosby, W. (U.S. Army, Walter Reed Army Medical Center Washington, DC, United States)
Johnson, P. C. (NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Lange, R. D. (Tennessee, University Knoxville, United States)
Larkin, E. (USVA Hospital Martinez, CA, United States)
Tavassoli, M. (NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX; Mississippi, University, Jackson, United States)