Comparison of factors regulating red cell 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG) in acute and chronic hypoxemia

Abstract In twelve hypoxemic patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), red cell 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG) correlated significantly with arterial Po 2 (p 2 . Arterial pH seems to be the best predictor of red cell 2,3-DPG in acute hypoxemia and metabolic acid-base disorders while arterial Po 2 or a related factor is pre-eminent in stable COPD.