Blood viscosity measurements are not sensitive enough to detect changes in erythrocyte deformability in cyclosporin-treated patients and its subsequent reversal with fish and corn oil

Abstract

Rheological factors might be involved in the adverse effects of cyclosporin therapy. The use of cyclosporin is associated with a lower erythrocyte deformability. In order to investigate whether a decreased erythrocyte deformability was accompanied by changes in whole blood viscosity, measurements were done in patients in which a lower erythrocyte deformability was found. Twenty nine stable renal transplant recipients, ten receiving cyclosporin, ten cyclosporin-prednisolone and nine azathioprin-prednisolone were supplemented in a double blind cross-over study with fish oil and corn oil for a period of four months each. No difference was found in whole blood viscosity between the patient groups with different immunosuppressive regimens, which means whole blood viscosity measurements did not detect decreased erythrocyte deformability. No decrease in whole blood viscosity was found in renal transplant recipients after supplementation of fish oil and corn oil, while erythrocyte deformability increased in the cyclosporin-treated patients. Neither were plasma viscosity and the fibrinogen level influenced by fish or corn oil. Whole blood and plasma viscosity are not influenced by the use of cyclosporin. It is concluded that whole blood viscosity measurements are not sufficient to detect changes in erythrocyte deformability and therefore separate measurements of erythrocyte deformability are indicated.