Viscosimetric monitoring of plasmapheresis

Issue title: Proceedings of the Third European Conference on Clinical Hemorheology. Part III. Baden-Baden, F.R. Germany, 24–27 August 1983. Symposium IV. Rheological Aspects of Plasma Separation and Plasmapheresis

Guest editors: Alfred L. Copley and Holger Schmid-Schönbein

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Nicol, C.G.^a | Harkness, J.^b

Affiliations: [a] Winthrop Laboratories, Surbiton, KT6 4PH, England | [b] Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton, TA1 5DA, England

Abstract: The authors recently proposed (1) the concept “Erythrocyte Transport Function” (E.T.F.) This is expressed by the ratio: haematocrit over whole blood viscosity (φ/η); it has been used as a new criterion of blood-changes arising during a programme of plasmapheresis. In addition, the parameters “A” (whole blood viscosity at 1% haematocrit and one sec−1 rate of shear) and “β” (a shear-sensitivity index) recently proposed (2) have been used. Data are presented on how far these new measurements supplement plasma viscosity in reflecting blood-changes during plasmapheresis. It is suggested that φ/η which closely follows changes in plasma viscosity, has numerical as well as rheological implications in monitoring plasmapheresis.

Keywords: Erythrocyte Transport Function, whole blood viscosity, plasmapheresis, plasma viscosity

DOI: 10.3233/CH-1985-5107

Journal: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 45-50, 1985