Comparative viscosity and erythrocytes disaggregation shear stress of blood–radiographic contrast media mixtures in three mammalian species

Abstract

We compared blood viscosity and red blood cells (RBC) disaggregation shear stress in three mammalian species (humans, pigs and sheep) before and after adding water‐soluble iodinated contrast media (CM): Ioxaglate (ionic CM) and Iopromide (non ionic CM). The two CMs had a diluting effect on the blood of the three species, which resulted in a viscosity decrease at all shear rates. However, viscosity rose slightly at low shear rates (in relation to increase of RBC aggregation) and low CM concentrations (10%), regardless of the ionic or non ionic nature of the CM. The two CMs had a similar proaggregant effect in human and pig’s bloods. The proaggregant effect was slightly more pronounced with the ionic CM. We concluded that the pig is more suitable than the sheep for in vivo assessment of blood/CM mixture.