Viscoelastic blood parameters of multiple myeloma and M. Waldenström patients

Abstract

Several hemorheological parameters of whole blood and plasma from healthy donors and from patients with multiple myeloma or Morbus Waldenström were investigated. The values of both mean hematocrit and viscoelastic parameters of whole blood were significantly lower and the plasma viscosities were higher in the patients than those of the control group. On the contrary, the calculated viscoelasticity data from a standard hematocrit of 45 % showed the opposite effect for whole blood. This may suggest, that in the case of non-existing reduced hematocrit values, multiple myeloma patients could exhibit blood hyperviscosity. Further, the determination of “aggregation independent” hematocrit values for both groups indicated an increased aggregation tendency of erythrocytes in patients with multiple myeloma. Thus the determination of viscoelastic parameters can lead to a better understanding of the hemorheological risk states of the patients and can provide a further aid in the application of drugs.