Influence of ABO blood groups and fibrinogen on thrombus formation and aggregation of red cells in cardiovascular and malignant diseases: new aspects of biorheological characterization of disease¹²

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Dintenfass, L.^a | Stewart, J.H.^b | Milton, G.W.^c | Forbes, C.D.^d

Affiliations: [a] Haemorheology Unit and Medical Research, Sydney Hospital, and Department of Medicine, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia | [b] Immunology and Renal Unit, Kanematsu Institute, Sydney Hospital, Australia | [c] Melanoma Clinic and University Department of Surgery, Sydney Hospital, Australia | [d] University Department of Medicine, Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, Scotland

Note: [1] A part of this study was carried out in the haemorheology laboratory established by L.D. at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary during his 1970–1971 Commonwealth Visiting Professorship to the BioEngineering Unit, University of Strathclyde, Scotland.

Note: [2] 1st International Congress of Biorheology, Lyon, France, 4–8 September 1972

Abstract: This study deals with blood viscosity factors not usually employed in the biorheological characterization of disease or as prognostic indices, The apparent viscosity of artificial red/white and white thrombi and aggregation of red cells, as defined by the erythrocyte sedimentation rates corrected for plasma viscosity and adjusted to haematocrit of 30 per cent, arc elevated in cardiovascular diseases, such as myocardial infarction and renal failure, and in malignant melanoma. The two new potential diagnostic or prognostic parameters studied are: (a) influence of fibrinogen level on the apparent viscosity of artificial thrombi and on the aggregation of red cells; and (b) influence of ABO blood groups on the correlations obtained for the functions described under (a). It is shown that the effect of fibrinogen varies greatly depending not only on the type of disease but also on the type of ABO blood group. While in the normal states or in artificial systems the levels of fibrinogen arc correlated with the increases in these rheological parameters, there is no correlation in vascular disorders. In all the vascular and malignant disorders there were very significant (P < 0.001) differences between A and O, A and B, and Band O blood groups in the effects of fibrinogen level on these rheological functions.

DOI: 10.3233/BIR-1973-10412

Journal: Biorheology, vol. 10, no. 4, pp. 585-594, 1973