The effect of acute hand vibration on red cell filterability

Abstract

Venous haematocrit, fibrinogen and red cell filterability were measured before and after one minute of acute hand vibration, in 8 normal subjects, 14 patients with primary Raynaud's phenomenon and 12 patients with vibration induced white finger. Acute hand vibration had no significant effect on haematocrit or fibrinogen levels. Red Cell Transit Time increased significantly in the primary Raynaud's group indicating a decrease in filterability in a large proportion of red cells. The number of clogging particles increased significantly in both the Primary Raynaud's group and the control group. Although the number of clogging particles increased in the VWF group, this did not reach statistical significance. These results indicate that exposure to acute hand vibration causes a decrease in the filterability of red cells and this may be a contributory factor in the decrease in digital blood flow that occurs in response to acute vibration.