Leucocyte numbers and quality: their effect on viscosity

Area of Science:

• Hematology
• Rheology
• Oncology

Background:

• Leukocyte (white blood cell) viscosity is a critical factor in blood flow dynamics.
• Understanding how different types of leukemia affect blood viscosity is essential for patient risk assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the viscosity and flow properties of leukocyte suspensions in various leukemia types.
• To determine the impact of varying leukocyte counts and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) on blood viscosity.

Main Methods:

• Leukocyte suspensions from patients with acute myelomonocytic, acute myeloid, chronic myelogenous, and chronic lymphatic leukemias were analyzed.
• Viscosity was measured in native plasma across a range of leukocyte concentrations (100-600 x 10(9)/l) and shear stresses.
• The influence of mean corpuscular volume (MCV) on viscosity was also assessed.

Main Results:

• Leukocyte viscosity showed an increasing trend from chronic lymphatic leukemia (CLL) to chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and acute myelomonocytic leukemia (AMML).
• A correlation between viscosity and mean corpuscular volume was observed.
• High leukocyte counts in AMML and AML significantly increased the risk of blood hyperviscosity.

Conclusions:

• Leukocyte viscosity is significantly altered in various leukemia subtypes, with AMML exhibiting the highest viscosity.
• Patients with AMML and AML, especially at high cell densities, face a substantial risk of developing hyperviscosity syndrome.
• These findings highlight the importance of rheological assessment in managing leukemia patients.