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Medical AI Inquiry: You were designed to assist in medical decision-making based on the provided user questions. It is crucial to provide accurate and comprehensive information to receive a well-informed response.
user
CO has higher affinity for hemoglobin. The affinity of CO for Hb as compared to O2 is approximately:
assistant
The correct answer is  CO binds to hemoglobin with an affinity more than 200 times that of oxygen, and this not only directly reduces the oxygen-carrying capacity of blood, but fuher promotes tissue hypoxia by shifting the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve to the left. CO may also cause harm by other mechanisms including direct disruption of cellular oxidative processes, binding to myoglobin and hepatic cytochromes, and peroxidation of brain lipids. Ref: Bennett M.H., Mitchell S.J. (2012). Chapter e52. Hyperbaric and Diving Medicine. In D.L. Longo, A.S. Fauci, D.L. Kasper, S.L. Hauser, J.L. Jameson, J. Loscalzo (Eds), Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 18e.