[Change in blood rheological properties in response to graded physical exertion in patients with ischemic heart disease and persons at risk]

Abstract

Blood rheologic properties were investigated before and after rationed exercise in 26 patients exhibiting risk factors unattended by atherosclerotic signs, 33 coronary patients and 26 normal subjects. Hemorheologic changes in response to bicycle ergometry were shown to depend largely on the efficiency of cardiac performance and be more marked in coronary patients and those exhibiting risk factors, as compared to normal subjects. In addition, the erythrocyte aggregation coefficient increased significantly during rationed exercise in coronary and risk-factor patients, in contrast to normal subjects. It is suggested that disorders of blood viscosity and erythrocyte aggregation, developing in part of coronary and risk-factor patients, may be conducive to the progress of atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease.