Abstract
The rheologic properties of blood were studied in 6 patients with primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH) and compared with those of a control group of 10 healthy subjects. Blood viscosity was studied with a rotational viscometer and blood cell deformability with a filtrometer giving values for clogging particles (CP) and red cell transit time (RCTT). Blood viscosity at varying shear rates was found to be increased both at natural (p < 0.025-0.005) and standardized hematocrit, 45% (p < 0.05 at 40 s-1) in patients with PPH. Red cell deformabil ity was reduced as indicated by a significant increase of RCTT (p<0.01). In creased values for hematocrit (p < 0.001), hemoglobin concentration (p < 0.001), and erythrocyte count (p < 0.005) were found and decreased values for mean cor puscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) (p< 0.025) and HDL cholesterol (p < 0.005). Plasma viscosity, white cell deformability, white cell count, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), and plasma fibrinogen concentration did not sig nificantly differ from the values found in the control group. It is concluded that patients with PPH have impaired blood rheology. The hemorheologic abnor malities in these patients may be of hemodynamic significance.
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