Hematocrit · What Is It, Importance, and More

Hematocrit (HCT) refers to the proportion of red blood cells (RBCs) in an individual’s blood. Adults with XY chromosomes usually have an HCT that ranges from 40% to 54%, and adults with XX chromosomes have an HCT that ranges from 36% to 48%. In addition to RBCs, blood has three other major components: white blood cells, platelets, and plasma. 

Hematocrit is a very useful laboratory finding as having too few or too many RBCs may be a clinical indication of various medical conditions, like anemia or polycythemia, respectively. It can also be used to monitor individuals post-operatively in order to prevent or screen for complications, like internal bleeding.

Low hematocrit levels, also known as anemia, may be the result of decreased production of RBCs, increased loss of blood, increased destruction of RBCs, or a combination of these.

The most common cause of low hematocrit levels is chronic (e.g., ulcers, colon cancer) or acute (e.g., trauma, internal bleeding) bleeding, which leads to significant blood loss. Notably, individuals of reproductive age who are assigned female at birth may have low hematocrit due to menstruation. However, hematocrit may also decrease due to peripheral destruction of RBCs as seen in conditions like sickle cell anemia, where RBCs have a shorter lifespan; and splenomegaly (i.e., enlargement of the spleen), where a great number of healthy RBCs are destroyed in the spleen. Another cause of low hematocrit is decreased production of RBCs, as seen in chronic inflammatory diseases, or bone marrow suppression caused by radiation therapy, malignancies, or medications like chemotherapy. Lastly, malnourishment (e.g., iron, B12, and folate deficiency) as well as overhydration may also lead to decreased hematocrit levels.

High hematocrit levels may be the result of hemoconcentration, or overproduction of RBCs.

Dehydration, due to fluid loss from repetitive vomiting, overheating, or limited access to fluids, may cause hemoconcentration. Additionally, low oxygen availability triggers the production of new blood cells in order to transport oxygen throughout the body and can be caused by smoking; high altitudes; congenital heart diseases; or certain pulmonary disorders, such as pulmonary fibrosis or chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD). In addition, polycythemia vera, which is characterized by the overproduction of RBCs as a result of increased bone marrow stimulation (i.e., myeloproliferation), can cause high hematocrit levels. Similarly, increased erythropoietin production, either due to androgen use or due to erythropoietin production from kidney, liver, and ovarian tumors, can also increase hematocrit. Finally, various pathologies of the endocrine system, like Cushing syndrome, may also result in high hematocrit levels. 

Hematocrit measures the percentage of red blood cells in the total blood volume. A wide variety of medical conditions and especially blood disorders can be detected by a hematocrit test. Low hematocrit levels, also known as anemia, may be the result of decreased RBC production, increased blood loss, increased destruction of RBCs, or a combination of the above. On the other hand, high hematocrit levels may be the result of hemoconcentration, or RBC overproduction, which can be triggered by various factors.