Abstract
The findings of 398 consecutive measurements of blood viscosity, plasma viscosity and hematocrit were submitted to a statistical analysis. Hematocrit appeared to be the major determinant of blood viscosity, even though its influence was not as strong as had been claimed previously. The correlation between blood viscosity and hematocrit appeared strictly related to the red cell mass of blood sample, being stronger when the latter exceeded physiologic range. The correlation disappeared when red cell mass was severely reduced. The correlation of plasma viscosity and blood viscosity behaved in an opposite manner. The data allow one to draw some corollaries which may be helpful in clinical practice.
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