Impaired blood rheology in reflex atrophy and its normalization during physical treatment

Abstract

Fourteen patients suffering from reflex atrophy stage II were investigated for blood rheology. Blood and plasma viscosity, hematocrit, blood cell filterability, red cell aggregation, leukocyte count, serum electrophoresis, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and plasma fibrinogen levels were measured. The cross-sectional comparison shows that, compared to matched controls, plasma viscosity, red cell aggregation and ESR were significantly higher, while blood cell filterability and gamma globulin fractions were lower in patients. In a subsequent longitudinal study five patients were studied while receiving hydroelectric treatment. During therapy a progressive normalization of plasma viscosity and blood cell filterability readings, paralleled by clinical improvement could be observed. It is suggested, that blood rheology is impaired in reflex atrophy stage II, possibly due to an imbalance of autonomous nervous control, and that this hemorheological deficit might contribute to the disruption of the microcirculation in this disease.