Impaired skin microcirculation and blood rheology in patients with monoclonal gammapathy

Hemorheological disturbances in patients with monoclonal gammapathies are widely known, but there is little information about microcirculation in these patients. The following study was performed to examine skin microcirculation and its relationship with blood rheology. We analysed both haematological and hemorheological parameters (blood and plasma viscosity, aggregation index and filterability of 1 ml of whole blood) and skin microcirculation in 46 patients with monoclonal gammapathy and 22 healthy controls. Microcirculation on dorsal aspect of the hand was examined with laser Doppler flowmeter. We measured resting flow and biological zero and maximal flow during postischemic hyperaemic reaction after one minute occlusion on the arm. The same parameters were estimated for CMBC (concentration of moving blood cells). Patients with monoclonal gammapathy are characterised by statistically higher whole blood and plasma viscosities and other hemorheological parameters and disturbed skin microcirculation expressed as statistically significant lower resting flux and impaired reaction for temporary occlusion.