Abstract
In ischaemic heart disease, it is not easy to define whether hemorheological disturbances are primitive or secondary to myocardial ischemia. We report results from 14 patients aged 48 to 75 admitted to the coronary care unit (CCU) with myocardial pre-infarction syndrome (MPIS) defined as a persistant typical angina resistant to NTG and accompanied by specific ECG changes. Venous blood samples were taken on admission to the CCU for measurement of hematocrit (Hc), whole blood viscosity (BV), plasma viscosity (PV), and whole blood filterability (Fi). Six patients improved subsequently and were discharged without myocardial infarction (NMI patients), while the other 8 developed documented MI 12 hours to 4 days after admission (MI patients) with significantly higher BV at any shear rate and at patients hematocrits as well as at corrected hematocrit (p < 0.01), higher PV (p < 0.01). Hc was higher and Fi lower in MI patients although not significantly so.
The results suggest that hemorheological changes play a major role in triggering or worsening hemodynamic events leading to MI.
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