Blood Rheology in Post-Thrombotic Syndrome — A Pilot Study

Abstract

Patients suffering from post-thromobotic syndrome are compared to controls in terms of ex-vivo measurements to quantify the rheological behavior of blood: blood and plasma viscosity, haematocrit, red cell aggregation, red cell filterability, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), plasma fibrinogen. The results show that plasma viscosity, red cell filterability, ESR and fibrinogen are significantly changed indicating a lack of blood fluidity in post-thrombotic disease. It is suggested that the rheological deficit and the venous pathology both contribute to a disturbed microcirculation in the affected limb.