Characterization of pathological bloods with a new rheological relationship

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Wang, X. | Stoltz, J.F.

Affiliations: URA CNRS 875 - Laboratoire d'Energétique et de Mécanique Théorique et Appliquée-2, av. de la Forêt de Haye - 54504 Vandoeuvre-Lès-Nancy, France | Laboratoire Hémorhéologie - Hématologie, Faculté de Médecine - BP 184, Avenue de la Forêt de Haye, 54505 Vandoeuvre-Lès-Nancy, France

Abstract: On the basis of experimental viscometric determinations with human blood, the authors used a SISKO type relationship to describe the non-Newtonian rheological behaviour of blood : τ = ηp (η$\dot{\gamma}$ + α$\dot{\gamma}$1/2) where ηp is the plasma viscosity; η is a non-dimensional parameter equal to the relative viscosity of blood at infinite shear rate and α a constant characterizing the structure of blood. A good concordance was observed between the experimental blood viscosity and the theoretical values given by the relationship both for normal blood (n=133) and pathological samples (n=157). The model parameters were stable and well correlated with hematocrit and with RBC aggregation time measured by a laser back-scattering method. We tried equally to characterize pathological bloods by the model parameters. The statistic analysis showed that the mean values of α and η for some pathological samples (Kahler's disease, Waldenström's disease, Hypertension) were significantly different from normal values. It will be interesting to extend this study to other diseases, in particular to bloods in which the blood cells present altered rheological properties.

Keywords: blood viscosity, rheological relationship, clinical applications, RBC aggregation

DOI: 10.3233/CH-1994-14210

Journal: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 14, no. 2, pp. 237-244, 1994