Plasma viscosity in 615 subjects. Effect of fibrinogen,globulin,and cholesterol in normals,peripheral vascular disease retinopathy,and melanoma

Abstract

Plasma viscosity was studied at 37°C by means of Coulter Automatic Capillary Viscometer. EDTA blood was obtained from 615 subjects, including normals as well as patients with peripheral vascular disease, retinopathy, and malignant melanoma. The aim of this study was to explore relationships between plasma viscosity and levels of fibrinogen, cholesterol and globulin, and establish viscosity values for 37°C.

Values for plasma viscosity at 37°C were determined for the whole series (1.261 cP ± 0.118), and for the five subgroups. The highest significance was observed between plasma viscosity and globulin level ( $\mathit{P}\mathrm{<}0.0001$ ), and then between plasma viscosity and fibrinogen level ( $\mathit{P}\mathrm{<}0.001$ ). Cholesterol contribution was not significant either for the whole series or for most subgroups. In most subgroups globulin level was of greater importance than the fibrinogen level. Error of estimate (standard deviation from regression) was 0.11 cP for the whole series, and from 0.06 to 0.15 cP in different subgroups.