Changes in haematological parameters during a summer expedition in Antarctica

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of extreme climatic conditions and a long stay in isolation on levels of three haematological parameters in the polar expedition participants. This article describes changes in erythrocyte count, hemoglobin and transferrin levels measured on the 9th Czech Antarctic Scientific Expedition during the period of the Antarctic summer. A total of 15 sera samples were collected shortly before the expedition, the second sampling was performed halfway through the stay and the third at the very end of the expedition stationed at the Czech Research Station of J. G. Mendel. The erythrocyte count and the levels of transferrin were significantly increased in between all three sample collections (with p-value < 0.01). A statistically significant increase in hemoglobin levels was only detected between the first and the final sampling (p