Disorders of blood viscosity

Abstract

In clinical situations associated with disturbed blood flow, the primary focus is usually on improving cardiovascular performance. However, during recent decades, both basic science and clinical literature reports have presented evidence that the flow properties of blood must also be considered in these situations. Thus, the relatively new fields of haemorheology and clinical haemorheology have evolved; the former deals with the flow and deformation behaviour of blood, plasma and the formed elements of blood, whereas the latter relates to alterations of their behaviour in various pathophysiologic states. This review therefore summarizes some of the salient aspects of clinical haemorheology and of the determinants of blood flow properties (flow rate, haematocrit, plasma viscosity, red cell aggregation, red cell deformability). In addition, it briefly describes several clinical disorders associated with abnormal blood, plasma or cell rheology ('hyperviscosity syndromes' occurring in polycythaemia, leukaemia, sickle cell disease, paraproteinaemias).