Reply to Gille et al.

Abstract

TO THE EDITOR: We thank Dr. Gille and collaborators for their comment (1) to our review (2). The following statements in their letter have to be discussed: 1) In contrast to the findings of Vogel et al. ( 3), the in vivo oxygen dissociation curve is not left-shifted in the patients of their recent study (4). 2) There is no marked increase in methemoglobin concentration in their patients as suggested by us for Vogel's results. 3) Oxygen saturation is calculated as the sum of oxyhemoglobin (O 2 Hb) and carboxyhemoglobin (COHb).