Patients with chronic hypoxia (low O₂ levels)due to decreased lung function may adapt by increasing their circulating BPG levels.Predict which of the following will be true for such a patient. A)p₅₀ for O₂ will be decreased. B)p₅₀ for O₂ will be increased. C)The R-state of hemoglobin will be favored. D)O₂ binding to hemoglobin will be hyperbolic. E)None of the above

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Patients with chronic hypoxia due to decreased lung function may adapt by increasing their circulating BPG levels. BPG binds to hemoglobin and stabilizes the T-state, which promotes the release of oxygen to tissues. Therefore, an increase in BPG levels would lower the affinity of hemoglobin for oxygen, shifting the oxygen dissociation curve to the right. This means that at any given oxygen partial pressure, hemoglobin will release more oxygen to the tissues. As a result, pO2 for O2 saturation will be decreased (choice A is incorrect), pO2 for O2 saturation will be increased (choice B is correct), the R-state of hemoglobin will be disfavored (choice C is incorrect), and the oxygen dissociation curve will be more sigmoidal due to the lower oxygen affinity of hemoglobin (choice D is incorrect).

Patients with Chronic Hypoxia (Low O2 Levels)due to Decreased Lung

Patients with Chronic Hypoxia (Low O₂ Levels)due to Decreased Lung