Influence of surface-active substances on the flow properties of hyperosmolar blood

Hypertoneous (hyperosmolar) conditions of human blood are known to increase the viscosity of blood and to decrease the deformability of red blood cells. Due to the dehydration of the erythrocytes, their shape is crenated and their passage through smallest capillaries is impaired. The data presented here shows that the addition of small concentration of surface active drugs to hyperosmolar blood samples is able to reduce both, blood viscosity and the rigidity of red cells. Measurements have been performed by several rheological and by a microrheological 8 mum-filter system. This new phenomen seems to be of theoretical and clinical interest.