Influence of temperature on blood pH of the human adult and newborn

Abstract

The effect of temperature upon p^H of blood from adult and newborn humans was investigated. Although the mean ΔpH/ΔT values for the two populations differed, 0.0144/ °C for adults versus 0.0128 for the newborn, this was not peculiar to the source since the temperature-induced p^H changes were identical when comparison was made between samples of similar p^H and CO₂ content. It was shown that even over the physiologic pH range Δp^H/ΔT is not constant but is a function of p^H and CO2. No significant changes in Δp^H/ΔT were observed with oxygenation of hemoglobin. The influence of red cell concentration was detectable only when hematocrit values fell below 20%. A graph and an equation for the determination of Δp^H/ΔT of blood with a given pH and CO₂ content is presented. acid base Submitted on December 9, 1963