Effects of tourniquet application on plasma viscosity measurements

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Rosenson, Robert S.^; | Tangney, Christine C.

Affiliations: Preventive Cardiology Center, Lipoprotein and Hemorheology Research Facility Section of Cardiology, Rush Presbyterian St. Luke’s Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612, USA | Departments of Medicine, Pathology and Clinical Nutrition, Rush Presbyterian St. Luke’s Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612, USA

Note: [] To whom correspondence should be addressed: Robert S. Rosenson, Preventive Cardiology Center, Rush Presbyterian St. Luke’s Medical Center, 1653 West Congress Parkway, Chicago, IL 60612, USA. Tel.: (312) 563 2011; Fax: (312) 226 7013; E‐mail: rrosenso@ rush.edu.

Abstract: Reliable plasma viscosity measurements are required for cardiovascular risk factor assessment. This study was designed to examine the influence of tourniquet pressure and duration on plasma viscosity measurement with a coaxial cylinder at 37{}^\circC. Plasma viscosity was evaluated at low (40 mm Hg) and high (mean arterial blood pressure plus 10 mm Hg) tourniquet pressure and at two time intervals following (0–1 and 4–5 min) of tourniquet application in 38 healthy adults. Longer duration of tourniquet application was accompanied by a significant increase in plasma viscosity at both low (1.356{}\pm{}0.067 mPa s versus 1.393{}\pm{}0.067 mPa s (p= 0.0001)) and high (1.321{}\pm{}0.071 mPa s versus 1.430{}\pm{}0.086 mPa s (p= 0.0002)) tourniquet pressures. Plasma viscosity values were not influenced by the magnitude of tourniquet pressure. The accuracy of plasma viscosity measurements can be improved by sample acquisition within 1 min following tourniquet application.

Journal: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 18, no. 2-3, pp. 191-194, 1998