Erythrocyte aggregation,compaction stasis,the cohnheim compaction phenomenon and inflammation

Abstract

Compaction stasis, which occurs in certain diseases and conditions, is generally considered to be without increased capillary or vascular permeability. In inflammation, however, compaction stasis occurs together with increased capillary permeability for which the term ‘Cohnheim compaction phenomenon’ was introduced. Our studies of whole human blood with hematocrits from 60 to 96 per cent have been made, since reversible compaction stasis occurs with high concentrations of erythrocytes. Measurements of blood with these high hematocrits in whole human blood, employing the cone and plate geometry of the Weissenberg Rheogoniometer, showed that in steady shear normal stress was present an that at very low shear rates plug flow was indicated. Experiments in oscillatory flow showed and elastic modulus. A brief survey of studies related to compaction stasis and the Cohnheim compaction phenomenon is given. The survey is also concerned with acute, sterile inflammation, in which the erythrocytes are aggregated or reversibly clumped. A differentiation is made between reversible and irreversible compaction stasis. In reversible compaction stasis, the erythrocytes are aggregated or reversibly clumped and thus can desaggragate. Irreversible compaction stasis, in which the erythrocytes are irreversibly clumped or agglutinated, may be associated with infections. The affected vessel walls and erythrocyte agglutinates may then contain microorganisms and/or their products. We found experimental evidence that in conditions of reversible compaction stasis, in which increased capillary permeability was not suspected, such as in polycythemia, shock and mountain sickness, increased focal capillary permeability can occur, indicating the Cohnheim compaction phenomenon.