Contribution of the haematocrit to the bleeding time

Bleeding time, platelet count and haematocrit were performed in 64 normal, anaemic and polycythaemic subjects with normal renal function and platelet counts over 100 X 10(9)/1. There was a significant inverse correlation between the bleeding time and haematocrit (r = -0.47) and an inverse correlation of the haematocrit and platelet count (r = -0.46). We suggest that the effect of the haematocrit on the bleeding time could explain the shorter bleeding time in men compared to women, and the shorter bleeding time in subjects with arterial disease, in whom an increased haematocrit is commonly found.