Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation - Volume 18, issue 4

Authors: Nguyen, F. | Drouet, L. | Boisseau, M. | Léger, P. | Juchet, H. | Bierme, R. | Cambus, J.P.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Erythrocyte aggregation was measured in 12 patients with congenital dysfibrinogenemia. The results showed hyperaggregation in four patients who had presented a thrombotic disorder, while aggregation was entirely normal in patients with asymptomatic dysfibrinogenemia. None of the four symptomatic patients had any other anomaly of hemostasis, in particular no coagulation inhibitor deficit or anti‐phospholipid antibodies. The possible involvement of erythrocyte hyperaggregation in the thrombotic process is discussed.

Keywords: Erythrocyte hyperaggregation, thrombosis, dysfibrinogenemia

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 18, no. 4, pp. 235-243, 1998

Authors: Kesmarky, G. | Toth, K. | Habon, L. | Vajda, G. | Juricskay, I.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Hemorheological parameters are primary risk factors in ischemic heart disease (IHD). In the present study the relation of these parameters to the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) was examined. The data of 109 patients (mean age: 55{}\pm{} 9 years) undergoing coronary angiography and 59 healthy controls (mean age: 35{}\pm{} 10 years) were analyzed. Hemorheological parameters (hematocrit, fibrinogen level, plasma viscosity (PV) and apparent whole blood viscosity (WBV)) were determined and the circulatory index (CRI) was calculated. Patients were classified into three groups according to their coronary vessel state based on the coronary angiogram: Group 1 (n=19 …, mean age: 53{}\pm{} 8 years) without significant CAD, Group 2 (n=19 , mean age: 51{}\pm{} 11 years) with single vessel disease, Group 3 (n=71 , mean age: 57{}\pm{} 8 years) with multivessel disease. All the measured hemorheological parameters of IHD patients were significantly higher than those of controls. Fibrinogen and PV were significantly elevated in Groups 2 and 3 compared with Group 1 (p< 0.05 and 0.01). Hematocrit and WBV were significantly increased in Group 3 compared with Groups 1 and 2 (p< 0.05 ). CRI was significantly decreased in IHD patients, and it was also lower in Group 3 than in Group 2 (p< 0.05 ). These results indicate that hemorheological parameters may play a role in the pathogenesis and development of CAD. Show more

Keywords: Blood rheology, coronary artery disease, coronary, angiography, circulatory index

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 18, no. 4, pp. 245-251, 1998

Authors: Martínez, M. | Vayá, A. | Server, R. | Gilsanz, A. | Aznar, J.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: In order to ascertain whether the increased aggregability observed in the red blood cells of diabetic patients is induced exclusively by plasma factors or is also influenced by membrane lipids, we examined the phospholipids of the erythrocyte membrane, the plasma fibrinogen concentration and erythrocyte aggregation in 86 insulin and non insulin‐dependent diabetic patients. The data obtained show that the erythrocyte aggregability of the diabetic patients is higher than that of the control group (10.0\pm 2.4 vs. 7.8\pm 1.6 %). This increased aggregability correlates not only with a higher fibrinogen concentration but also with changes observed in …the membrane phospholipids. The percentage of sphingomyelin (SP) in the patients is higher than in the controls (22.6\pm 6.8 vs. 18.4\pm 5.4 %) and that of phosphatidylserine (PS) is lower (9.5\pm 6.1 vs. 12.1\pm 5.1 %). No differences in the percentages of the other two phospholipids identified (phosphatidylcholine, PC, and phosphatidylethanolamine, PE) were observed. The increase in the saturated nature of the phospholipids of the erythrocyte membrane, which can be measured by the (SP + PC)/(PE + PS) ratio, is statistically related (r=0.39 ; p<0.05 ) to the increased red blood cell aggregability observed in these patients. Show more

Keywords: Diabetes, erythrocyte aggregation, fibrinogen, RBC membrane’s phospholipids

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 18, no. 4, pp. 253-258, 1998

Authors: Martínez, M. | Vayá, A. | Gil, L. | Martí, R. | Dalmau, J. | Aznar, J.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: The cholesterol/phospholipid ratio (C/PL) of the red blood cell membrane, plasma lipids and erythrocyte aggregability were evaluated in 20 children with familial hypercholesterolemia (age: 10.4{}\pm{} 4.6 years) but without detectable vascular injury. The results indicate that hypercholesterolemic children have a higher erythrocyte membrane C/PL ratio than the control group (0.81{}\pm{} 0.23 vs. 0.65{}\pm{} 0.08, p<0.01 ). This membrane lipid alteration correlates inversely with the plasma concentration of HDL‐cholesterol (r=-0.558 , p<0.010 ). The patients also showed greater erythrocyte aggregability than the control group (8.21{}\pm{} 1.11 vs. 6.25{}\pm{} 1.24, p<0.001 ), but …this does not seem to correlate with the changes observed in the lipid composition of the cell membrane. These results suggest that from childhood, people with familial hyper‐cholesterolemia show alterations in the lipid composition of the red blood cell membrane that are related to the changes observed in plasma lipids and appear prior to atherosclerotic vascular symptoms. Show more

Keywords: Red blood cell lipids, familial hypercholesterolemia, erythrocyte aggregability

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 18, no. 4, pp. 259-263, 1998

Authors: Clivillé, X. | Bofill, C. | Joven, J. | Monasterio, J. | Viscor, G. | Vernis, M. | Angles, A. | Sans, T.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Background. Clinical data suggest that autologous blood donation may prevent postsurgical venous thrombosis. If confirmed, this is probably due to beneficial effects in rheologic and hematologic variables which may be changed in patients as a result of repeated bleeding. Study design and methods. To ascertain this point, we studied variations in hematological, hemorheological, coagulative and fibrinolytic parameters in 30 patients undergoing autologous blood donation. Results. Whole blood viscosity (WBV), plasma viscosity and blood viscosity adjusted to 40% hematocrit, progressively and substantially decreased throughout the successive bleeding at all the shear rates considered. WBV was further reduced by presurgical …hemodilution with autologous plasma which decreased the platelet and leukocyte count. The hemostasis and fibrinolysis variables, however, underwent no clinically significative changes. Conclusion. Repeated bleedings change most hemorheological variables. By decreasing cytocrit and viscosity, reducing aggregability and increasing blood cell deformability an optimal milieu to help prevent thrombosis is artificially created. Show more

Keywords: Autologous blood transfusion, coagulation, fibrinolysis, hemorheology, venous thrombosis, viscosity

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 18, no. 4, pp. 265-272, 1998

Authors: Nagaprasad, V. | Singh, Megha

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: The hemorheological and morphological changes in blood during storage under standardised conditions for 35 days were analysed by sequential determination of the variability of aggregation, deformability and shape of erythrocytes. The shape analysis was carried out by shape descriptors based on the projected area and perimeter, as measured by processing of erythrocyte images obtained from blood smears. The aggregation of erythrocytes was analysed from the data on the sequential variation of transmitted laser intensity after passing through the erythrocyte suspension. Similarly, the deformability of erythrocytes was determined in terms of passage time as obtained by analysis of flow of erythrocyte …suspension through the cellulose membrane. The results show that the erythrocyte aggregation parameters and shape descriptors show significant variation, whereas the deformability is reduced (up to 5%) compared with that of the fresh samples. These variations may explain the observed changes in blood viscosity and viability of erythrocytes after their infusion in to the cardiovascular system. Show more

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 18, no. 4, pp. 273-284, 1998

Authors: Mchedlishvili, G. | Tsinamdzvrishvili, B. | Momtselidze, N. | Beritashvili, N.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: In some hypertensive patients a high level of arterial pressure proved resistant to the effect of Ca‐antagonists. However, the addition of therapeutic doses of Pentoxifylline caused a significant decrease of blood pressure. The arterial pressure changes were found to be correlated with the index of erythrocyte aggregability (investigated using a highly sensitive “Georgian technique”) in these patients. Thus, a pathogenetic link between blood pressure and hemorheological disorders could be conjectured. For a better understanding of the mechanism of these events the direct effect of Pentoxifylline on erythrocyte aggregability was investigated in vitro by using the blood samples of hypertensive patients …possessing hemorheological disorders. The obtained results showed that the effect of Pentoxifylline (in therapeutic doses) was direct and that the dose‐effect dependence was linear. From the obtained results we concluded that the beneficial effect of Pentoxifylline in hypertensive patients resistant to Ca‐blockers is attained by eliminating the immediate cause of blood rheological disorders, the enhanced erythrocyte aggregability. Show more

Keywords: Arterial hypertension, RBC aggregability, Pentoxifylline, Ca‐antagonist

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 18, no. 4, pp. 285-290, 1998

Authors: Bodey, A.R. | Rampling, M.W.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Haemorheological parameters in nine breeds of dog were examined. Whole blood viscosity at both high and low shear rates differed significantly between the breeds with a 50% difference between the highest and lowest viscosity at high shear rate and a 140% difference at low shear rate. Athletic breeds (Greyhounds, Deerhounds) had the highest whole blood viscosities. Differences in viscosity correlated well with differences in haematocrit between breeds. When the blood samples were adjusted to a standard haematocrit (45%), there were no significant differences in viscosity. This implied that other rheological factors such as cellular deformability and plasma viscosity did not …vary significantly between breeds, and direct measurement showed this to be the case. Show more

Keywords: Haemorheology, dog, whole blood viscosity, haematocrit

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 18, no. 4, pp. 291-298, 1998

Authors: Santus, René | Grellier, Philippe | Schrével, Joseph | Mazière, Jean‐Claude | Stoltz, Jean‐François

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Photochemical methods using photosensitizing photoactive drugs are very promising for blood product decontamination. Depending on the nature of virus – or parasite – bound photosensitizers, direct photochemical addition to virus components (DNA, proteins and lipids) occurs or the photosensitizer produces singlet oxygen inactivating viruses or parasites. The main advantage of this method is the lack of dark toxicity of presently used photosensitizers (psoralens, methylene blue, merocyanine 540, porphyrins/chlorins, phthalocyanines). In blood, the uptake of photosensitizers is not fully specific for infected cells. Therefore, normal cells and plasma proteins may suffer from the photodynamic action. Consequently, cell metabolism, rheological properties …and surface markers may be altered and a slow loss of functionality occurs during storage. Data regarding pathogen inactivation in plasma and blood proteins, platelets and RBC concentrates are presented in comparison with the effect of photosensitization on normal blood components. Means for protecting normal components from photosensitization are also evaluated. Show more

Keywords: Photosensitizers, photodynamic reactions, virus, parasites, singlet oxygen, membranes

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 18, no. 4, pp. 299-308, 1998

Authors: Khaled, S. | Brun, J.F. | Wagner, A. | Mercier, J. | Bringer, J. | Préfaut, C.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Since iron deficiency is associated with abnormal erythrocyte rheology, we investigated relationships between plasma ferritin and blood rheology in 36 male elite sportsmen (age: 22.38{}\pm{} 0.9 years). On the whole, ferritin was negatively correlated with blood viscosity (r = -0.36 , p< 0.05 ). When 23 subjects with low ferritin levels suggesting mild iron deficiency were compared with 13 matched sportsmen with normal ferritin levels, iron‐deficient sportsmen were shown to have a higher blood viscosity at 1000 s^{-1 } (3.17{}\pm{} 0.09 vs. 2.85{}\pm{} 0.06 mPa s, p< 0.05 ), explained by a …higher plasma viscosity (1.38{}\pm{} 0.02 vs. 1.31{}\pm{} 0.02 mPa s, p< 0.05 ), while hematocrit and RBC rigidity index T_{\rm k} were similar in the two groups. RBC aggregability index M (4.59{}\pm{} 0.58 vs. 2.95{}\pm{} 0.43 mPa s, p< 0.05 ) and M_1 (8.46{}\pm{} 0.58 vs. 6.07{}\pm{} 0.55, p< 0.01 ) were higher in iron‐deficient subjects. Serum zinc was lower in iron‐deficient sportsmen (0.73{}\pm{} 0.02 vs. 0.83{}\pm{} 0.02 mg/l, p< 0.01 ), but the score of early signs of overtraining was higher in this group (10.84{}\pm{} 1.61 vs. 4.08{}\pm{} 1.11, p< 0.01 ). These data suggest that mild iron deficiency as commonly seen in athletes, before anemia occurs, is associated with an increase in plasma viscosity and RBC aggregation, together with an increased subjective feeling of exercise overload. Show more

Keywords: Plasma ferritin, blood viscosity, plasma viscosity, RBC aggregation, sportsmen, overtraining, serum zinc

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 18, no. 4, pp. 309-318, 1998