Non invasive method to measure red blood cells transit time through the microcirculation of the brain

Issue title: The Fifth European Conference on Clinical Hemorheology. Part I

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Herrmann, T.^a | Gremillet, E.^b | Juge, J.^c | Champailler, A.^b | Rusch, P.^c | Healy, J.C.^b

Affiliations: [a] Service Associe de Medecine Nucleaire, Hopital Nord, 42277 Saint Priest en Jarez, Cedex | [b] Centre d’Imagerie Nucleaire, Polyclinique de Beaulieu, 42100 Saint-Etienne | [c] Service Central de Medecine Nucleaire, Hopital Bellevue, 42023 Saint-Etienne Cedex 2

Note: [] Accepted by: Guest Editor J.C. Healy

Abstract: Among the factors affecting oxygen supply to the tissues, red blood cells’ transit time through the microcirculation occupies an important place. Now, this transit time depends on two essential parameters: 1- the erythrocytes’ rheological properties; 2- the haemodynamic conditions existing locally in vivo. Therefore, lonely measurements of red blood cells’ deformability by in vitro methods do not allow a complete survey of microcirculatory status. We describe a new non invasive method providing quantitative characteristics of the distribution of red blood cells’ transit time through the cerebral microcirculation. This technique has been used in a clinical trial and has given objective criteria of Nafronyl’s (LIPHA Company - France) efficacy in elderly’s vascular dementia.

Keywords: Red cell transit time, cerebral microcirculation, red cell rheology, oxygen supply

DOI: 10.3233/CH-1988-83-425

Journal: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 8, no. 3-4, pp. 461-466, 1988