[Changes in hematologic indicators in personnel testing during 370-day anti-orthostatic hypokinesia]

This paper presents the results of evaluating blood morphology (counts of red blood cells, hemoglobin, reticulocytes, platelets, leukocytes and their forms), hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin content and concentration, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) in 9 test subjects during a 370-day head-down tilt study. It was demonstrated that blood morphology variations in 9 test subjects remained within normal variations throughout the entire period of observation, including the baseline, head-down tilt, and rehabilitation periods. There were the following exceptions. In the baseline period, a single episode of MCV increase and MCH decrease was recorded. In the course of head-down tilt, monocytosis, lymphocytosis, thrombocytopenia, basophilia, and lowered MCH were occasionally observed. MCV was slightly increased during several measurements. As compared to the norm, hematocrit increased or decreased. After exposure, there was a single episode of a decrease of erythrocyte count and hemoglobin, hematocrit, an increase of MCV and basophil count, and three episodes of monocytosis. These blood changes during 370-day head-down tilt should be viewed as a result of a combined effect of adverse factors accompanying hypokinesia, particularly reduced infection resistance.