Affiliations: [a] Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| [b] Department of Geriatrics, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| [c] Department of Interventional Radiology, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| [d] International Physical Examination and Healthy Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Rui-tao Wang, Department of Geriatrics, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, NO. 246 Xuefu ST, Nangang District, Harbin 150086, China. Tel.: +86 451 86605721; Fax: +86 451 86605725; E-mail: ruitaowang@126.com.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Various vascular risk factors such as smoking, obesity, and diabetes mellitus are associated with hyperviscosity and lumbar disc herniation (LDH). However, the changes of viscosity in LDH have not been examined. AIMS: The present study was to elucidate 1) the rheological parameter levels in patients with LDH, 2) the risk factors that were related to rheological parameters. METHODS: Our study evaluated the rheological parameters in 307 cases with LDH and in 307 control subjects. Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to assess the significant factors for whole blood viscosity (WBV) at low shear rate. RESULTS: LDH patients had markedly lower physical activity and significantly higher WBV 3 s–1 compared with non-LDH subjects (p < 0.001). Moreover, WBV (3 s–1) tended to increase as physical activity decreased. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that reduced physical activity was a significant factor contributing to elevated WBV (3 s–1). CONCLUSIONS: WBV (3 s–1) is elevated in patients with LDH. In addition, reduced physical activity is a significant factor for WBV (3 s–1). Further studies are warranted to determine the role of WBV (3 s–1) in LDH.
