Erythrocyte hyper‐aggregation in a patient undergoing orthotopic transplantation for primary sclerosing cholangitis complicated by biliary stricture

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Anwar, M. Akhtar | Rampling, Michael W.^;

Affiliations: Department of Neurology, Friedrich‐Schiller‐University, Philosophenweg 3, 07743 Jena, Germany | Division of Biomedical Sciences, Imperial College School of Medicine, South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ, UK

Note: [] Corresponding author: Michael W. Rampling Division of Biomedical Sciences, Imperial College School of Medicine, South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ, UK. Tel.: +44 0207 594 9824; Fax: +44 0207 594 3169; E‐mail: m.rampling@imperial.ac.uk.

Abstract: We report on the hemorheological profile of a 16 year old school girl in whom liver transplant was performed due to primary sclerosing cholangitis complicated by biliary stricture. This patient turned out to be of particular hemorheological interest, displaying pre‐transplant grossly increased hematocrit‐standardized (45%) blood viscosity due to hyperaggregation and elevated plasma viscosity, which is a reflection of elevated immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA and IgM) and alpha‐2‐macroglobulin. Post‐transplant values of rheological parameters were within the normal range for healthy controls.

Keywords: Blood viscosity, fibrous structures, fibrinogen, erythrocyte hyper‐aggregation, immunoglobulins, liver transplant, plasma viscosity

Journal: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 31, no. 3, pp. 169-172, 2004