Hemoglobin Levels and Erythrocytosis

Normal Reference Ranges and Context

• The standard definition of anemia uses hemoglobin <13.5 g/dL in adult males, which implies that normal values extend above this threshold, according to the American Journal of Kidney Diseases 1
• At sea level, the mean hemoglobin for adult males is approximately 14.6-15.4 g/dL, with the 95th percentile reaching 16.7-17.0 g/dL, as reported by the American Journal of Kidney Diseases 1

Clinical Approach to Elevated Hemoglobin

• The American College of Physicians recommends determining if elevated hemoglobin represents true erythrocytosis versus relative erythrocytosis, although no specific citation is provided in the given text, the initial statement about a hemoglobin level of 17.9 g/dL is elevated but falls within the normal range for healthy young men at high altitude, as stated in the American Journal of Kidney Diseases 1