Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation - Volume 19, issue 3

Authors: Dalén, T. | Engström, K.G.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Postoperatively filtered drain blood can be used for autotransfusion, but quality has been questioned. The blood contains activated or destroyed blood cells, debris, and chemicals from the wound. The ConstaVac autotransfusion system was used in 18 patients operated with a total knee prosthesis. Samples were taken from drain blood and compared with venous blood at different sampling times (to 24 h) and different incubation conditions. Micro‐rheology was measured as pore filterability (5 \mu m) in whole blood, erythrocyte resuspension, and plasma. The filtration flow resistance was significantly lower in drain whole blood, but was unchanged in erythrocyte resuspension compared …to venous blood. However, the rate of filter clogging was unchanged in drain whole blood, but was increased in the erythrocyte resuspension at 2 h. Drain plasma filterability indicated particle contamination. In total, the filterability of resuspended drain erythrocytes and cell‐free plasma is affected, but this is not significant enough to have effects on drain whole blood filterability which is increased, possibly due to the leukocyte reduction. From these perspectives, we consider drain blood acceptable for autotransfusion. Show more

Keywords: Autotransfusion, erythrocyte deformability, blood filtration, knee arthroplasty, surgical blood loss, drainage

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 19, no. 3, pp. 181-195, 1998

Authors: Sloop, Gregory D. | Mercante, Donald E.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Given the enlarging body of evidence implicating increased blood viscosity in atherogenesis, the authors hypothesize that lipoproteins modulate the atherogenic process by affecting blood viscosity. In order to define the magnitude of the effect of lipoproteins on blood viscosity, capillary viscometry was performed on blood from 16 healthy, fasting subjects, and results were correlated with lipoprotein‐cholesterol levels. Low‐density lipoprotein‐cholesterol was positively associated with blood viscosity (r= 0.610 , p= 0.01 ). High‐density lipoprotein‐cholesterol was negatively associated with blood viscosity (r= -0.479 , p=0.06 ). A multiple regression model was developed with these data, revealing that 54% …of variation in blood viscosity was attributable to these lipoproteins. This model was validated on a second dataset, in which these lipoproteins accounted for 28% of variation in blood viscosity. A second model, including hematocrit, serum viscosity, and high‐density lipoprotein‐cholesterol levels, explained 73% of variation in blood viscosity. By modulating blood viscosity and flow, lipoproteins may affect the residence time of atherogenic particles and atherogenesis. Show more

Keywords: Atherosclerosis, blood, viscosity, LDL, HDL

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 19, no. 3, pp. 197-203, 1998

Authors: Haritou, M. | Yova, D. | Koutsouris, D. | Loukas, S.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: The application of electric field pulses in cell suspensions is known to alter membrane integrity, resulting in increased membrane permeabilization. This field‐induced membrane poration provides the means to load cells with a variety of external substances, useful for clinical applications. In this work, intact rabbit erythrocytes were successfully loaded with low molecular weight fluorescent probes and with the high molecular weight enzyme pronase, which has been shown to mimic the effects of insulin. Attachment of the enzyme onto the cell surface was also achieved by modifying the applied pulse parameters. Both applications were efficient and accompanied by high cell survival …rates. In this way, biological carriers loaded with active substances were produced, offering the potentials for useful clinical applications, either for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. Show more

Keywords: Erythrocytes, electroporation, loading, pronase

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 19, no. 3, pp. 205-217, 1998

Authors: Bouix, D. | Peyreigne, C. | Raynaud, E. | Benhaddad, Aïssa | Mercier, J. | Bringer, A.J. | Préfaut, C. | Brun, J.F.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: While it is well established that blood viscosity is decreased in sportsmen and related to fitness, the involvement of fibrinogen in this relationship is less well defined. Relationships among fitness, rheology and fibrinogen were investigated in 32 football players (age 17–33 years: 19 professionals and 13 leisure players). A submaximal 25 min exercise‐test was performed and allowed the calculation of aerobic working capacity. Aerobic working capacity (W_{170} and VO_{2\,\max} ) was negatively correlated to fibrinogen (r=-0.531 , p&lt;0.01 and r=-0.623 , p<0.01 ), while on the whole sample the correlation to viscosity …and erythrocyte aggregation was not significant. When subjects were divided into two subgroups according to their plasma fibrinogen concentration, the aerobic working capacity (either expressed as W_{170} or VO_{2\,\max} ) is higher when plasma fibrinogen level is lower than 2.7 g/l. Thus, there is a highly significant negative correlation between fibrinogen and fitness in these sportsmen, independent of blood rheology. These data suggest that rheology and fibrinogen are to some extent separate determinants of an individual’s fitness. Show more

Keywords: Fibrinogen, sport, fitness, hemorheology, plasma viscosity

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 19, no. 3, pp. 219-227, 1998

Authors: Zhang, Jian‐bao | Kuang, Zhen‐bang | Fan, Yun

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: The inertia of the fluid and the inner cylinder in co‐axial cylinders rheometer have a great influence on the unsteady flow of non‐Newtonian fluid. In the paper this phenomenon is studied minitely and a method to correct the measured results for an unsteady flow in the rheometer is proposed. It was found that the inertia effect of a fluid can be ignored when the gap between cylinders is smaller and the inertia effect of the inner cylinder can be represented with a vibration equation. Using the equation changes of Huang’s blood constitutive parameters are observed.

Keywords: Inertia, rheometer, fluid, hemorheology

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 19, no. 3, pp. 229-234, 1998

Authors: Sodi, Nicola | Chiavetta, Monica | Sensi, Susanna | Urso, Renato | Rigato, Mario | Laghi‐Pasini, Franco | Di Perri, Tullio

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: The transcutaneous pO_2 (tcpO_2 ) changes induced by the increase of temperature to 45{}^\circ C after electrode stabilization at 37{}^\circ C were continuously recorded. The mathematical analysis of the curve led us to identify three different parameters: the half‐slope “b ” time, the angular “m_T ” coefficient and the angular “m_b ” parameter, which are not simply the expression of the maximum vasodilation capacity but mainly of the dynamic response of the microcirculatory system to skin heating. These parameters derived from the computerized mathematical analysis of the curve can be also obtained …by a graphical approach with a very good approximation. The angular “m_b ” coefficient was shown to possess the highest statistical power in discriminating the POAD patients from normal controls. The clinical relevance and the possible pathophysiological meaning of these preliminary observations have to be confirmed. Show more

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 19, no. 3, pp. 235-243, 1998

Authors: Bouix, D. | Peyreigne, C. | Raynaud, E. | Monnier, J.F. | Micallef, J.P. | Brun, J.F.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: We investigated relationships among body composition, blood rheology, and exercise performance in 14 rugbymen (19–31 yr, weight 65.8–109.2 kg, height 1.7–1.96 m, body mass index 21.7–33.1 kg/m^{2} ) who underwent a standardized submaximal exercise session on cycloergometer corresponding to 225 kJ over 30 min. The rheologic response to exercise was measured with the MT90 viscometer and the Myrenne aggregometer. Dehydration, evaluated by precision weighing, resulted in a loss of 360 to 973 g water, i.e., 1.69 to 4.32 g/kJ. This loss of water is not correlated to plasma volume contraction as assessed by the equation of Greenleaf. Hemorheologic changes …are observed, but they are correlated neither to water loss, nor to plasma volume contraction. A 36% increase in blood viscosity (p<0.01 ) is mainly explained by a red blood cell rigidification (p<0.02 ), although hematocrit and plasma viscosity also increase (p<0.01 ). Isometric adductor strength (specific ergometer) is correlated to erythrocyte flexibility (r=0.680 , p<0.01 ). Red cell aggregability (Myrenne aggregometer) is correlated to fat mass measured by bioelectrical impedance (r=0.634 , p<0.02 ). Aerobic working capacity index W_{170} is negatively correlated to the increase in plasma viscosity during exercise (r=-0.546 , p<0.05 ), suggesting that this event is less important in stronger individuals. This study shows that fat mass, even within a physiological range, is a determinant of erythrocyte aggregability, suggesting that training‐induced alterations in body composition play a role in the specific hemorheologic profile of athletes. In addition, both erythrocyte flexibility and the magnitude of fluid shifts during exercise appear to be related to fitness in these sportsmen. Show more

Keywords: Blood viscosity, hematocrit, exercise, rugby, body composition, bioelectrical impedance, hemorheology, erythrocyte deformability, erythrocyte aggregation, fitness

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 19, no. 3, pp. 245-254, 1998

Authors: Martínez, Marcial | Vayá, Amparo | Server, Ricardo | Santaolaria, Marisa | Aznar, Justo

Article Type: Research Article

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 19, no. 3, pp. 255-257, 1998

Authors: Vayá, Amparo | Martínez, Marcial | Dalmau, Jaime | Aznar, Justo

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: In order to ascertain whether polygenic hypercholesterolemia (PH), the most common cause of small increases in plasma lipids during childhood, is associated with rheological alterations, we determined the hemorheological and lipid profile of 21 PH children (12 males, 9 females) and a well‐matched control group (CG). In addition, a carotid ultrasound was done on all the PH children, but showed no alterations. When compared with the CG, PH children showed increased erythrocyte aggregation both at stasis (EAM_{0} ) (4.39 \pm 1.15 vs. 3.75 \pm 1.02), p<0.05 , and at low shear rate (EAM_{1} …) (8.22 \pm 1.42 vs. 7 \pm 1.39), p <0.01 , and increased plasma viscosity (PV) (1.19 \pm 0.04 cP vs. 1.15 \pm 0.04 cP), p<0.01 . These results reinforce the hypothesis that lipid metabolic alterations are associated with specific rheological modifications in absence of a demonstrable atherosclerotic lesion. Show more

Keywords: Polygenic hypercholesterolemia, children, hemorheology

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 19, no. 3, pp. 259-262, 1998

Article Type: Book Review

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 19, no. 3, pp. 263-263, 1998