Published online by Cambridge University Press: 29 January 2018
Control subjects voluntarily overbreathed to produce end-tidal PCO2 levels similar to those found in patients suffering from neurotic or endogenous non-retarded depression. Red cell sodium content was found to decrease during overbreathing in all the subjects. The changes were similar to those usually reported for depressed patients.
The results imply that red cell sodium levels are in part dependent on respiratory behaviour. They suggest a need for considerable caution in interpreting red cell sodium values from psychiatric patients.
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