Whole blood viscosity 1

Blood tests are now an indicator for people to pay regular attention to their physical health. Since blood tests are time-saving and convenient, they have become the most convenient physical examination item for the public. Of course, they can also monitor our physical health most directly. Blood viscosity is a very important indicator, but it is divided into many categories. What does whole blood viscosity refer to? The following editor will show you about it.

Whole blood viscosity is a comprehensive index. It is a comprehensive expression of plasma viscosity, hematocrit, red blood cell deformability and aggregation ability, and rheological properties of platelets and leukocytes. It is the viscosity of blood under different flow conditions (shear rate) and other conditions. When the shear rate is low, the blood viscosity is high. As the shear rate gradually increases, the viscosity gradually decreases and finally tends to a stable value.

Whole blood viscosity refers to the viscosity of the liquid. It is the inverse of flow. The greater the viscosity, the slower the flow; conversely, the faster the flow. The specific viscosity value is proportional to the viscosity. The greater the viscosity of the liquid, the longer it takes to pass through the capillaries and the higher its specific viscosity. Therefore, the specific viscosity can reflect the magnitude of the viscosity.

The determination of whole blood viscosity can provide important basis for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of many clinical diseases, especially prethrombotic and thrombotic diseases. Increased blood viscosity will cause increased blood flow resistance, slow down blood flow, and finally lead to blood flow stagnation, directly affecting the blood supply to organs and causing disease.

Increased whole blood viscosity is commonly seen in: abnormal plasma protein, such as macroglobulinemia, multiple myeloma, congenital hyperfibrinemia, etc. Due to the abnormally increased protein content in plasma, the plasma viscosity increases, which in turn increases the viscosity of the whole blood; increased red blood cell count, such as primary or secondary polycythemia vera, cor pulmonale, leukemia, plateau environment, long-term hypoxia and other diseases that cause red blood cell increase, can be accompanied by increased blood viscosity; abnormal red blood cell cytoplasm, such as increased red blood cell aggregation, decreased membrane fluidity and stability, etc., can increase the resistance of blood flow. The most typical diseases of this type of increased blood viscosity are myocardial infarction and coronary heart disease; in addition, it can also be seen in cerebral infarction, diabetes, thromboangiitis obliterans, pulmonary infarction, retinal arteriovenous thrombosis, sickle cell anemia, abnormal hemoglobinopathy, spherocytosis, etc.