Plasma viscosity during normal pregnancy

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Huisman, A.^a | Aarnoudse, J.G.^a | Fidler, V.^b | Heuvelmans, J.H.A.^d | Goslinga, H.^d | Huisjes, H.J.^a | Zijlstra, W.G.^c

Affiliations: [a] Department of Obstetrics, St. Lucas Hospital Amsterdam, The Netherlands | [b] Department of Medical Statistics, St. Lucas Hospital Amsterdam, The Netherlands | [c] Department of Physiology, St. Lucas Hospital Amsterdam, The Netherlands | [d] Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, St. Lucas Hospital Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Note: [] Accepted by: Editor B. Aronson (Received in final form by Executive Editorial Office 15.6.1989)

Abstract: The changes in plasma viscosity and plasma proteins were serially measured in 14 nulli- and 10 multiparae, during their normal pregnancies. As compared to the non-pregnant value plasma viscosity decreased in the first trimester, but increased during the second and third trimester until term. At 37 weeks, the plasma viscosity value exceeded the non-pregnant value, the difference being statistically significant. The increase in plasma viscosity during the second and third trimester of pregnancy was determined by the rise in fibrinogen concentration, which overruled the plasma viscosity lowering influence of the falling total serum protein concentration.

Keywords: plasma viscosity, normal pregnancy, fibrinogen

DOI: 10.3233/CH-1989-9402

Journal: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 9, no. 4, pp. 553-558, 1989