Plasma viscosity: a forgotten variable
Gábor Késmárky1, Péter Kenyeres, Miklós Rábai
1First Department of Medicine, University of Pecs, Pecs, Hungary. gabor.kesmarky@aok.pte.hu
Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation
|May 27, 2008
Summary
Plasma viscosity, a measure of blood
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry and Clinical Diagnostics
- Rheology and Fluid Dynamics
Background:
- Plasma viscosity, influenced by macromolecular components and water content, is an underutilized clinical measure.
- Protein characteristics like molecular weight, shape, and aggregation influence plasma viscosity.
- Plasma is a Newtonian fluid, simplifying viscosity measurement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the clinical utility and underutilization of plasma viscosity measurements.
- To advocate for the routine measurement of plasma viscosity in clinical practice.
- To compare plasma viscosity with other biomarkers like ESR and C-reactive protein.
Main Methods:
- Measurement of plasma viscosity using capillary viscosimeters at 37 degrees C.
- Analysis of factors affecting plasma viscosity, including protein properties and fluid dynamics.
- Comparison of plasma viscosity with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP).
Main Results:
- Normal plasma viscosity ranges from 1.10-1.30 mPa s, independent of age and gender.
- Plasma viscosity is sensitive to inflammations and tissue injuries, increasing with protein changes.
- Plasma viscosity shows higher sensitivity and specificity than ESR or CRP in conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and cardiovascular diseases.
Conclusions:
- Plasma viscosity is a stable, accurate, and easily measurable biomarker.
- Elevated plasma viscosity is linked to adverse clinical events in cardiovascular diseases and hyperviscosity syndromes.
- Routine clinical measurement of plasma viscosity is recommended due to its diagnostic and prognostic value.
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